This Bengaluru AI Startup Could Change How Your Car Thinks
Talking to your car isn’t a new concept anymore. Voice assistants like Google Assistant and Siri made this possible years ago. Now, an Indian AI agentic assistant is taking this innovation to the next level and aiming to transform the driving experience for millions with an agentic mesh framework. Bengaluru-based AI startup Kogo Tech Labs recently unveiled India’s first universal voice assistant for automobiles at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. A few months ago, the startup announced an AI agent store offering AI tools, agents and plugins. “Unlike Siri and Alexa, these agents not only give you access but can also operate apps and services on your behalf,” said Raj K Gopalakrishnan, co-founder and CEO of Kogo Tech Labs. Unlike existing voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa, Kogo’s assistant operates at a deeper level, directly interacting with applications to perform actions such as initiating navigation rather than opening a navigation app alone. It can execute a variety of commands, from controlling car hardware (e.g., switching on wipers or adjusting air conditioning) to managing apps and services. “This assistant is not just a showcase but a practical application of what’s possible with our technology. Whether it’s a truck driver topping up a FASTag or a family planning a vacation, the assistant provides a versatile, multi-language platform to meet diverse needs,” Gopalakrishnan noted. According to him, the new capability extends across domains, from navigation to booking airline tickets and provides users with a unified, intelligent assistant that can handle diverse tasks seamlessly. Enter MapmyIndia As a voice for automobiles, navigational capabilities become critical and, to address that, Kogo has strategically partnered with geo-intelligence company MapmyIndia. Through the partnership, MapmyIndia’s advanced geo-intelligence stack, along with Kogo’s AI assistant, offers navigation and location-based services. Kogo’s assistant will be able to support a wide range of automotive applications, from real-time navigation to enterprise logistics. The partnership will also provide access to MapmyIndia’s extensive customer base, including 30 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and numerous enterprise clients. This will position Kogo to scale its solutions effectively. “Mobility, by definition, requires geo-intelligence, and who better than MapmyIndia? They are the leaders in geo-intelligence, at least in India. They also have a lot of deep learning and access, through their partnership with ISRO and NAVIC, etc,” Gopalakrishnan highlighted. Notably, a few years ago, MapmyIndia acquired more than 26% stake in Kogo Tech Labs. Google, ChatGPT? Big tech companies have partnered with automobile manufacturers to host their cloud and assistant features. Recently, Google Cloud announced its agentic integration with Mercedes. Similarly, ChatGPT is also integrated with Mercedes. Drawing parallels, Gopalakrishnan explained that while they are catering similarly, their platform works on an agentic mesh. “So right now, what this means is that it’s not dependent on one service. It potentially gives access to millions of apps and businesses because they can all now talk to each other. So, we’re platform agnostic,” he said. Kogo is already testing its platform with four OEMs – two in North America and two in India. “It’s a similar kind of approach where we will go in right at ground zero and implement this.” They are also working on integrating their platform at a stack level with major semiconductor players, which will be announced in the coming months. Way Ahead While voice assistants have become a popular trend, Kogo’s leaders caution against viewing them as a one-size-fits-all solution. “Voice agents are fascinating, but their true potential lies in specific use cases where they outperform traditional interfaces, such as while driving or during hands-free tasks,” said Praveer Kochhar, co-founder of Kogo Tech Labs. He predicted that by 2025, real-world deployments of voice technology at scale will become more commonplace. Looking ahead, Kogo is focusing on enhancing the cognitive capabilities of its agents. “We’re working on rolling out goal-oriented agents in three months, capable of solving complex problems independently,” Praveer shared. He also envisions a shift in AI capabilities from task-oriented to goal-oriented frameworks. “You will see a huge capability in the cognitive ability of agents and tools, which means they will be able to solve complex tasks. They will be able to chart out their own pathway of solving problems,” he concluded.
“Unlike Siri and Alexa, these agents not only give you access but can also operate apps and services on your behalf,” said Raj K Gopalakrishnan, co-founder and CEO of Kogo Tech Labs.
“Unlike Siri and Alexa, these agents not only give you access but can also operate apps and services on your behalf,” said Raj K Gopalakrishnan, co-founder and CEO of Kogo Tech Labs.
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As a rare blend of engineering, MBA, and journalism degree, Vandana Nair brings a unique combination of technical know-how, business acumen, and storytelling skills to the table. Her insatiable curiosity for all things startups, businesses, and AI technologies ensures that there's always a fresh and insightful perspective to her reporting. She now hosts her tech segment 'Point Break' on AIM Tv.