BMW is employing artificial intelligence to promote its new electric cars through an automated information service.
'BMW i Genius'. uses specially developed software to interact with potential customers in a live question-and-answer format that works on a smartphone or tablet - just SMS a question about BMW i cars and the system will respond with a detailed and helpful answer.
The company claims the adaptive system is capable of interpreting words, the context of those words and the sentiment behind each question in order to respond, so that more questions can follow in an informative, real-time conversation.
OPEN AROUND THE CLOCK
The system was developed by London Brand Management, a promotional software provider founded 19-year-old Dmitry Aksenov, who explained it as “a channel for BMW and its customers to make better buying decisions by getting access to the right information at the right time in the right place”.
“It's capable of understanding each question and responding, just as if you were talking to an expert from BMW - and it's open around the clock, allowing the customer to ask any question about i cars, but without the hassle of having to pick up the phone or go into a dealership.”
To use the service - which is at present available only in the UK - users need to SMS their question to 84737. The programme will then activate and generate a response about the BMW i3 or i8.