SoundHound AI and Lucid Motors Bring In-Vehicle Voice Assistant with Integrated Generative AI to Electric Vehicles

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 2, 2025--

SoundHound AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOUN), a global leader in voice artificial intelligence, today announced that Lucid, maker of the world's most advanced electric vehicles, has launched the Lucid Assistant.

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The Lucid Assistant is a revolutionary new hands-free voice assistant, offering customers an easy and intuitive way to control many vehicle functions by speech. To demonstrate the Lucid Assistant’s seamless functionality, SoundHound will host a hands-on experience with a Lucid Air at its CES booth (LVCC, West Hall Level 1, Booth #4964, Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility).

The Lucid Assistant is powered by SoundHound Chat AI, the cutting-edge voice platform that was the first into full production with a voice assistant that integrates the latest generative AI technology. This integration will give drivers access to a voice assistant that further enhances Lucid's in-vehicle user experience with interactive knowledge discovery, real-time data, and effortless in-vehicle controls.

“Developing Lucid Assistant in cooperation with SoundHound enables us to deliver much more than a voice control feature,” said Dr. Jean-Philippe Gauthier, Head of Software Engineering at Lucid. “In combination with Lucid’s frequent over-the-air software updates, Lucid Assistant can grow in functionality and capability over time, delivering an ever-better experience for Lucid owners.”

Now live and available to Lucid Air owners, the Lucid Assistant responds to the wake words “Hey Lucid.” Drivers and passengers can ask questions in a natural and conversational way and receive fast, accurate responses through SoundHound’s proprietary technology. This technology ensures that the assistant selects the correct response from the most appropriate domain – whether that’s an answer powered by generative AI, or the kind of response that other large language models may not handle, like real-time questions about weather, sports, stocks, and more.

In addition, the in-vehicle voice assistant lets users access Lucid’s full car manual and can provide answers to almost any question about the vehicle’s functionality. Drivers can also use voice to control critical features like navigation, and many of the Lucid Assistant features and functions can also be accessed without needing a cellular connection.

“Lucid is one of the most exciting automakers in the world, so it stands to reason they are launching this pioneering new voice AI assistant,” said Michael Zagorsek, COO of SoundHound AI.“We believe that SoundHound’s best-in-class voice technology opens up unlimited new opportunities for both drivers and OEMs, and will fundamentally change the way we interact with our vehicles into the future.”

When processing queries, the SoundHound system uses a proprietary approach to massively reduce the risk of “AI hallucinations” – misleading and unpredictable responses often associated with some LLMs. The assistant is available in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, German, and Dutch, with additional languages coming soon.

About SoundHound AI

SoundHound (Nasdaq: SOUN), a global leader in conversational intelligence, offers voice and conversational AI solutions that let businesses offer incredible experiences to their customers. Built on proprietary technology, SoundHound’s voice AI delivers best-in-class speed and accuracy in numerous languages to product creators and service providers across retail, financial services, healthcare, automotive, smart devices, and restaurants via groundbreaking AI-driven products like Smart Answering, Smart Ordering, Dynamic Drive Thru, and Amelia AI Agents. Along with SoundHound Chat AI, a powerful voice assistant with integrated Generative AI, SoundHound powers millions of products and services, and processes billions of interactions each year for world class businesses. www.soundhound.com.

SoundHound AI announced that Lucid, maker of the world's most advanced electric vehicles, has launched the Lucid Assistant powered by SoundHound Chat AI. (Graphic: Business Wire)

For the first time in 20 years, rain is expected to intrude on the Rose Parade in Southern California, a venerable New Year's Day event that attracts thousands of spectators and is watched by millions more on TV.

Storms caused Christmas week flooding, mudslides and other miseries across the region. Now comes a 100% chance of rain Thursday in Pasadena, the National Weather Service said.

“We try not to say that word around here,” joked Candy Carlson, a spokesperson for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the organization behind the 137th Rose Parade, which precedes the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff game.

Arctic air is meanwhile expected to blanket much of the eastern two-thirds of the country, the weather service said.

In New York City, forecasters predict temperatures in the low 30s Fahrenheit (around zero degrees Celsius), which is not unusual, when the ball drops in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Light rain is possible in Las Vegas, where several casinos will be shooting fireworks from rooftops.

During Nashville's Big Bash, a New Year's Eve event at a park, temperatures will be in the low 30s when an illuminated music note drops at midnight in the Tennessee city. New Orleans will be in the mid-40s Fahrenheit (around 7 degrees Celsius) for a free concert and fireworks along the Mississippi River.

At the Rose Parade, it has rained only 10 times in the parade's history — and not since 2006, Carlson said.

Rare wet weather is unlikely to keep floats, marching bands, entertainers and others from participating. Carlson said people riding on floats will have rain gear if necessary, and tow trucks will be standing by in case of mechanical problems.

Spectators will need to prepare, too. Umbrellas are not allowed in parade seating areas that require tickets, though the ban doesn't cover people who simply line up along the nearly 6-mile (10-kilometer) route. Curbside camping — no tents — begins at noon Wednesday. Rain also is predicted that day.

“Last year's parade theme was ‘Best Day Ever!’ and six days later it was the worst," said Lisa Derderian, spokesperson for the city of Pasadena, referring to the devastating Eaton wildfire in Los Angeles County. “We want to start the new year on a high note. Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates with the weather.”

Confetti is released during a confetti test ahead of New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - Marching bands perform along Colorado Blvd. in the 136th Rose Parade, in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)