Imagine a car audio system that reads the morning news to you while you drive off for office. It’s not just your ordinary radio news show but updated and personalized news according to your preference or needs, delivered by an automated voice output. This may still sound like its straight out of the Jetsons, but this technology is actually being currently developed by German automaker Audi, a leading innovator in the field of infotainment in automobiles.

Audi has led the industry when it comes to infotainment technologies. In 2004, it introduced Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), a digital radio system offering a wide selection of stations with the audio quality of a music CD. The system is currently available as an option on the Audi A6/S6, A8/S8 and the Audi Q7. DAB is the basis of the personalized newsreader that Audi’s researchers are developing. In this system, the car owner can choose which content he would like to receive, such as world news, weather updates, sports news, stock updates and many more.

The system can be personally configured to avoid redundancy as well as to allow the driver to determine how long he wishes to be informed about certain news. This system is a response to the increasing demand for the latest information that is adapted to their personal preferences.