Lucid is transforming how drivers interact with their EVs through a sophisticated new voice assistant that goes well beyond simple commands. The system — developed with AI company SoundHound — brings natural conversation abilities to both the Air sedan and upcoming Gravity SUV.
“My friend suggested that I go check out the NFL stadium while I’m in Vegas; what’s it called?” asked a driver during a recent demonstration. The assistant responded almost instantly: “The NFL Stadium in Vegas is called the Allegiant stadium. It’s super cool.”
This kind of natural back-and-forth represents a major upgrade from Lucid’s previous Alexa integration, which often struggled with spotty connections and limited functionality. The new system works even without cellular service — a crucial feature for EVs often traveling through remote areas.
Kyle Halstvedt, SoundHound’s technical program manager, provided an inside look at the assistant’s capabilities. His team worked closely with Lucid to deeply integrate the voice controls with critical EV functions like finding optimal charging stations and preconditioning the battery.
The stakes are particularly high for Lucid, whose vehicles are capable of some of the fastest charging speeds available. Getting drivers to the right charger — and preparing the battery properly — can mean the difference between a quick pit stop and a lengthy delay.
Voice is now central to Lucid’s user experience strategy.
“It’s not just ordering the car around,” explains Dave Flint, Lucid’s head of user experience. “It’s about how the car begins to communicate with me through voice.”
The assistant launched in September 2023 as part of Lucid’s UX 2.4 software update, replacing the previous Alexa system. It’s currently available in six languages across North America and the Middle East.
What sets this system apart is its hybrid approach — combining cloud-based AI with local processing. This allows for both sophisticated natural language understanding and reliable basic functions, even without an internet connection. The assistant can handle everything from climate control and navigation to explaining warning lights and walking through the owner’s manual.
The system is particularly clever in how it maintains context through conversations. Rather than treating each command as isolated, it can follow complex threads of dialogue about locations, preferences, and vehicle functions.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Gravity SUV, Lucid is doubling down on voice control as part of a streamlined interface that includes a “digital detox” mode with minimalist displays. The company can quickly update the assistant’s capabilities through cloud updates, with local backups following via software updates.
SoundHound’s technology helps avoid the “AI hallucinations” — those bizarre, off-topic responses — that plague some voice assistants. By combining traditional voice processing with newer AI capabilities, the system aims to be both reliable and naturally conversational.
“If you just plugged OpenAI’s APIs into your vehicle it would do a really good job of talking but it wouldn’t do a really good job of acting,” Halstvedt notes. “We want to bring together those strengths.”
