Cerence Receives Funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to Drive Innovation in Automotive Assistants for Autonomous Cars

Rhea-AI Summary

Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC) has joined a three-year project called EMMI, aimed at enhancing trust in autonomous vehicles. Funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Cerence will develop emotionally aware automotive assistants. A Deloitte study indicates that while 61% of German drivers are open to autonomous technology, 90% desire control, citing safety concerns. Cerence aims to address these issues through emotion recognition technology to improve driver comfort and confidence.

Positive

• Cerence joins EMMI project, enhancing credibility in autonomous driving.
• Funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry supports innovative automotive research.
• Aim to develop emotionally aware assistants enhances consumer trust in technology.

Negative

• 90% of drivers express safety concerns about autonomous vehicles.
• 65% of drivers lack trust in the reliability of autonomous technology.

Cerence joins five fellow industry leaders in three-year program to enhance trust in autonomous vehicles

BERLIN and BURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC), AI for a world in motion, today announced that it has received funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and signed on as a member of the three-year EMMI (Empathische Mensch-Maschine Interaktion or, Empathetic Human-Machine Interaction) project. Cerence’s role in the project will focus on the creation of emotionally aware automotive assistants that increase trust in autonomous vehicles, a crucial element in the advancement of vehicle autonomy.

A Deloitte study of more than 2,000 German drivers showed that while 61% are interested in trying out new developments in autonomous driving, respondents demonstrate a fundamental lack in confidence in the safety of autonomous cars, with 90% reporting that they want to be able to intervene and take control at any time and 65% responding that they are afraid that autonomous technology is not reliable.

“As we continue to approach higher levels of vehicle autonomy, we know that trust will be one of the most critical factors in creating widespread consumer acceptance and adoption of autonomous cars. This is a challenge our entire industry is faced with solving together,” said Sanjay Dhawan, CEO, Cerence. “We are proud to join a world-class, forward-thinking group of innovators and work together to create an automotive assistant and in-car experience that helps move this important mission forward.”

As a member of the EMMI project, a team at Cerence, led by the company’s emotion recognition expert Dr. Raymond Brueckner and UX expert Dr. Markus Funk, will focus on emotion-based technologies and their impact on increasing driver comfort, confidence and affinity for autonomous vehicles. Leveraging auditory emotion detection and emotion-aware dialog systems, Cerence will develop an empathetic and intuitive automotive assistant that can respond and give feedback to drivers with an unparalleled level of emotional intelligence and understanding, improving the driving experience and ultimately increasing trust in autonomous driving technologies.

Additional members of the EMMI program include Charamel GmbH, Saint-Gobain Sekurit Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für künstliche Intelligenz GmbH (DFKI), CanControls GmbH, and the Institut für Kraftfahrzeuge der RWTH Aachen University (ika).

To learn more about Cerence, visit www.cerence.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Cerence Inc.
Cerence (NASDAQ: CRNC) is the global industry leader in creating unique, moving experiences for the automotive world. As an innovation partner to the world’s leading automakers, it is helping transform how a car feels, responds and learns. Its track record is built on more than 20 years of knowledge and more than 325 million cars on the road today. Whether it’s connected cars, autonomous driving or e-vehicles, Cerence is mapping the road ahead. For more information, visit www.cerence.com.

Contact Information
Kate Hickman
Cerence Inc.
Tel: 339-215-4583
Email: kate.hickman@cerence.com

FAQ

What is the EMMI project Cerence joined?

The EMMI project focuses on developing empathetic human-machine interaction to enhance trust in autonomous vehicles over three years.

What funding did Cerence receive?

Cerence received funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for the EMMI project.

What does Cerence aim to improve in autonomous vehicles?

Cerence aims to create emotionally aware automotive assistants to increase driver comfort, confidence, and trust in autonomous vehicles.

What did the Deloitte study reveal about driver confidence in autonomous vehicles?

The study revealed that 90% of drivers want the ability to intervene and take control, indicating a fundamental lack of confidence in autonomous vehicle safety.

Who are the other partners in the EMMI program?

Other members include Charamel GmbH, Saint-Gobain Sekurit Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, DFKI, CanControls GmbH, and RWTH Aachen University's ika.