When Shined with a Smartphone, the Manual Appears... Kia Motors Develops 'Manual App' with Google

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Kia Motors announced on the 18th that it has completed the development of the AI-based car manual app, ‘Kia Owners Manual App,’ in collaboration with Google Cloud.

The ‘Kia Owners Manual App’ is a customer convenience application that, when the smartphone camera is pointed inside the vehicle, provides detailed video explanations of the names and key operating methods of the functions. Drivers do not need to look through the manual booklet one by one and can easily and conveniently understand the functions with simple operations.

Kia Motors has been providing a similar augmented reality (AR)-based application to customers since 2017. However, due to the nature of AR technology, it was difficult to maintain because the switch layout and shape had to be measured every time a new car was released, and there were challenges in expanding into the global market.

To overcome these limitations, Kia collaborated with Google Cloud and Megazone. By applying the image learning model based on Google Cloud’s unique ‘AI platform’ technology, it became possible to accurately identify switch symbols regardless of the angle at which they are photographed.

For example, when a user scans the ‘Cruise Control’ symbol on the steering wheel with a smartphone, the AI platform through server communication recognizes the image, and a video introducing the detailed functions of ‘Cruise Control’ plays on the smartphone accordingly.

Kia Motors plans to sequentially apply the ‘Kia Owners Manual App’ starting with new cars to be released worldwide, including South Korea, from the second half of this year.

Kim Eui-seong, Executive Director of Kia Motors Customer Channel Service Division, said, “By providing user manuals using advanced technology, we can offer a differentiated customer experience unique to Kia. By showing various difficult-to-understand vehicle functions through easy and intuitive videos, customers will be able to understand Kia’s new technologies and enjoy a safe and pleasant car life.”

Choi Ki-young, President of Google Cloud Korea, said, “We are very pleased to introduce the Google Cloud AI platform, which is widely used to automate visual quality control processes in the manufacturing industry, into the Kia Owners Manual App,” and added, “The AI-based Kia Owners Manual App is another innovative example showing how AI can solve corporate challenges and enhance customer experience.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.