Mercedes-Benz is expanding the capabilities of its MBUX Voice Assistant. Smart home features will be added to the tech starting this week, allowing customers to operate their in-home appliances and security equipment with their voice.
The Voice Assistant smart home feature works with Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, TP-Link, and Chamberlain Group’s myQ. Lights, smart plugs, thermostats, motion detectors, and garage doors are among the devices and equipment that users can operate.
For example, users can ask, “Hey Mercedes, is everything okay at home?” and the system will provide a response such as “All the windows are closed, and the light is still on in the bedroom.” This means that users may monitor the status of several home appliances and systems using simple voice commands. Adding smart home accounts will be easy via a QR code displayed on the central display of the vehicle.
This new smart home feature is part of a broader upgrade that includes Dolby Atmos sound, a YouTube web app, and voice Assistant enhancements that let users to control infotainment elements such as playing a music or reading the news with the addition of the NewsFlash app.
The manufacturer is planning a third iteration of its MBUX system for 2025, with app integrations such as Angry Birds, TikTok, Zoom, and the Vivaldi web browser. It will also have automations, making it easy to adjust many car settings, such as the HVAC, seat conditioning, and radio stations, with a single command.