Kia introduces Hindi voice AI technology in new models

SoundHound AI has announced the integration of its advanced voice AI technology into Kia vehicles in India, with a significant emphasis on the inclusion of Hindi language support. The technology has been launched with the 2025 Kia Carnival and 2025 EV9 models, marking a pivotal step towards enhancing the driving experience for Kia owners in India.

The rollout of SoundHound’s voice-enabled experience in Kia vehicles signifies a commitment to accommodating one of India’s most widely spoken languages, Hindi, and is set to expand further with plans to include a wider range of regional languages. Over time, Kia intends to integrate 10 additional Indian languages, such as Bangla and Punjabi, in their models in a phased approach. This move promises an increasingly inclusive and accessible technology experience for Kia drivers across different linguistic backgrounds in India.

This development comes as part of Kia’s broader connected car platform, Kia Connect, which incorporates smart technology to enhance user convenience and vehicle interactivity. The AI-driven voice assistant from SoundHound is designed to understand and respond to complex conversational queries, leveraging its proprietary Speech-to-Meaning and Deep Meaning Understanding technologies.

Kia drivers and passengers will enjoy a breadth of hands-free capabilities thanks to SoundHound’s comprehensive content domains. The voice assistant can handle a variety of in-vehicle tasks, from navigation and phone calls to providing real-time updates on sports scores and weather conditions. Moreover, it supports control of vehicle functions, allowing users to manage tasks such as playing music, locking doors, adjusting the climate, and managing windows, all through voice commands.

Michael Zagorsek, the Chief Operating Officer of SoundHound AI, highlighted the collaborative effort with Kia, stating, “By integrating our advanced voice AI into Kia vehicles in India, we’re not only providing hands-free convenience but also tailoring the experience to local drivers with support for Hindi, ensuring a more personalized and engaging in-car experience.” His comments underscore the strategic focus on localization and enhancing user interaction with technology in a manner that resonates with Indian consumers.

This collaboration between SoundHound AI and Kia is part of a growing trend where automotive companies are increasingly embedding advanced voice recognition technologies to enrich user experience and accommodate the diverse needs of global markets. With the implementation of regional language support, Kia is placing itself in a strong position to appeal to the broad spectrum of language preferences in India, potentially setting a benchmark for future innovations in the automotive industry.

Source: Noah Wire Services