SoundHound AI, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOUN) today announced a 7-year deal with Hyundai to include SoundHound's Edge+Cloud voice AI technology, music recognition software, voice commerce solution, and multiple-language conversational intelligence in a broad range of vehicle models globally. This announcement coincides with SoundHound’s 2022 Q1 earnings release, featuring $230 million in cumulative bookings spanning multiple verticals and demonstrating broad business momentum. Through its long-term partnership with Hyundai, SoundHound is expected to further grow bookings based on upcoming delivery milestones.
The new agreement brings SoundHound's Edge+Cloud voice AI technology in multiple languages to numerous Hyundai vehicles, including Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia—creating one seamless and responsive voice interface for in-car controls and cloud-based searches and significantly improving the voice experience. With units launching in several languages across North America and India, the companies have confirmed plans to add more languages and regions over time.
"Our partnership with SoundHound opens up possibilities for us to push the capabilities of voice inside Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia vehicles and enhance our customers' driving experiences beyond what is possible today," said Paul Choo, Executive VP, Infotainment Development Center at Hyundai Motor Company (OTC:HYMLF). "SoundHound's solution gives us the freedom to have a single hybrid solution that provides a seamless experience between cloud and edge voice capabilities."
Key to this agreement is SoundHound's newly developed Edge+Cloud voice solution for automakers. The technology has been optimized for the unique automotive environment and pairs with SoundHound's cloud-based voice AI technology to give drivers more options for in-car controls and features like navigation even when the cloud is not available. SoundHound's Edge solution is built to deliver voice AI capabilities in environments where speed and accuracy have to be balanced with mission-critical memory and CPU footprint requirements.
"The size and scope of this agreement will allow Hyundai to bring the power of voice AI to drivers in every class of vehicle in markets around the globe," said Keyvan Mohajer, CEO and Co-Founder, SoundHound Inc. "Our Edge+Cloud and Active Arbitration technologies deliver a seamless, conversational voice experience not previously possible with a single voice AI platform."
The companies are also partnering to identify and deliver voice commerce opportunities to Hyundai customers including food ordering, voice payment, and promotions from content domain partners.
Hyundai and SoundHound first announced their partnership in 2014, again in 2017 with an agreement to bring voice to Hyundai cars in 2019, and again in 2020 with the introduction of Hyundai's dynamic voice recognition system in their 2021 Elantra and Elantra Hybrid vehicles in North America. Hyundai will now supplement the cloud solution with SoundHound’s Edge connectivity voice AI and begin rolling out the new voice experience across regions globally.