SoundHound AI said this week that its voice assistant product will now be featured in vehicles from three major global automotive brands across North America.
The company called the move a “significant integration” of its SoundHound Chat AI Automotive solution.
The product is the company’s flagship in-car voice assistant. Unlike traditional systems limited to commands for navigation or hands-free calls, SoundHound’s assistant understands natural human speech and delivers “highly intelligent, conversationally fluid responses.”
The company didn’t name the automakers involved in this latest rollout, though it has previously disclosed partnerships with Hyundai, Kia, and Honda.
It also said it has secured deals with four electric vehicle manufacturers, two of which have already deployed its software.
The lack of specifics may have muted Wall Street enthusiasm. Shares of SoundHound slipped 3.3% on Wednesday following the announcement, as well as another 1% Thursday.
That’s par for the course in what’s been a volatile stretch for the stock.
Founded in 2005, the company was relatively under the radar until Nvidia (NVDA) disclosed a $3.7 million stake in February last year. The news sent shares soaring 570% overnight, earning SoundHound a meme-stock label among some market watchers.
But the hype didn’t last. Nvidia revealed earlier this year that it had sold its entire stake, triggering a steep 53% selloff.
Even so, some on Wall Street remain bullish.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives, one of the tech sector’s most closely followed voices, has called SoundHound “an underappreciated pure play AI company.” He and others point to SoundHound’s expansion across three key verticals: automakers, smart devices, and restaurants.
That strategy has been on full display this month. Alongside its auto push, SoundHound announced a new partnership with Acrelec, a global quick-service restaurant (QSR) tech developer.
The companies will integrate SoundHound’s Dynamic Drive-Thru voice AI with Acrelec’s digital signage and content management systems at select restaurant locations worldwide.
Acrelec supports over 25,000 restaurants globally. SoundHound’s voice AI, meanwhile, is already deployed in more than 10,000 locations, with applications ranging from drive-thrus and kiosks to phone and headset systems.
The company is set to report Q2 earnings Thursday after the closing bell. And with its stock down 45.6% year to date, investors will be looking for more than just buzzwords.
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