SoundHound AI Powers Next-Generation Voice Assistant with Real-Time Generative AI for the Kia Sorento, Launched in India

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SoundHound AI, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOUN), a global leader in voice and agentic AI, today highlighted the deployment of its voice and generative AI technology in the Kia Sorento in India. The integration underscores SoundHound’s deepening footprint across India, reinforcing continuous unit expansion across high-volume international markets.

With the Sorento in India, the Kia AI Assistant with Real-Time Generative AI makes its global debut, marking a first for the Sorento lineup and a category first in the market. Combining SoundHound’s proprietary voice AI platform with advanced generative capabilities, the "Hey Kia" wake-up command delivers continuous, multi-turn conversational support engineered to handle even complex requests in real-time: * In-Cabin System Control: Drivers can intuitively adjust climate controls, cabin lighting, windows, and driving modes using natural, conversational speech without relying on rigid, pre-programmed phrasing. * Hands-Free Vehicle Intelligence: Passengers can get instant answers to any question about their vehicle from the digital owner’s manual, and learn about features like hybrid powertrain functions or specialized seating settings. * Dynamic Conversational Search: The system delivers real-time information, localized point-of-interest navigation, news updates, and contextual Q&A tailored for high-accuracy performance in noisy cabin environments. "The new Kia Sorento is a standout vehicle, and we've delivered an equally powerful voice experience to match. We’re giving drivers effortless control over cabin systems, vehicle knowledge, and live navigation by using natural, everyday speech," said Keyvan Mohajer, CEO and Co-Founder of SoundHound AI. "As demand for intelligent vehicles accelerates across India, extending our AI technology further into Kia's premier models marks another leap forward in scaling our technology across high-growth international markets."