Mercedes-Benz Incorporating Updated Microsoft Teams In Its Vehicles

Driving has traditionally been a sanctuary from modern life – a sacred time when you’re in transit, devoting your attention to operating a motor vehicle, and, thus, unavailable to be contacted until you reach your destination. It’s a time for contemplation of life’s mysteries or just cranking up the tunes and forgetting all about them.

The cellular phone began the intrusion on this brief respite. Except for phone calls, driving has still been an excuse not to be available for the humdrum happenings at your place of employment. But fear not, hustle culture enthusiasts. Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft are teaming up to change that.

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You Can Now Fully Join That Fun Microsoft Teams Meeting While Driving A Mercedes

You know that camera Mercedes provided? It’s not just for selfies. An enhanced version of the Meetings for Teams app allows Mercedes drivers to use their camera for Teams meetings while driving. Mercedes says the system will comply with applicable local laws to prevent drivers from getting distracted. The video stream will cut off while the vehicle is in motion, and shared screens and slides will not be visible. Drivers will be able to turn off their video and make audio connections if they wish.

The app receives a new dashboard with an easier system for drivers to access their upcoming meetings and locate contacts. There’s also an expanded chat function for reading and writing messages.

There’s More Microsoft Work Fun For Your Mercedes

Mercedes is integrating Microsoft Intune into its operating system. Drivers can log into their business work accounts from their car. The vehicle will separate private and business data and provide the “enterprise-grade security standards” found on other devices. Intune works with existing productivity apps in the OS, such as MBUX Notes and Calendar.

And because no facet of modern life would be complete without Generative AI, Mercedes and Microsoft are integrating Microsoft 365 Co-Pilot into the vehicle. By using voice prompts, drivers will be able to summarize incoming emails, search for client information, and manage daily tasks. Mercedes and Microsoft believe this technology will “transform the vehicle into a third workplace, complementing the office and the home office,” which sounds positively awesome for a society that’s already overworked. At least Microsoft Co-Pilot will be a bit more professional than Sexy Grok.

Why Is Mercedes Doing This?

We, too, pine for the days when working from your Mercedes was, at worst, yelling into a cartoonishly large receiver as you cruised down the PCH in your R107 SL with the top down. But times have changed. And this innovation from Mercedes is only the latest in an effort by many automakers to convert cars into big devices that meld seamlessly with the other devices (and maybe collect potentially lucrative data).

Much of the impetus for this, at least for the intermediate to long-term future, is self-driving. If your Mercedes becomes wholly or substantially driven autonomously, the differentiator shifts quickly from the performance dynamics of the vehicle to features like integrated tech. And for many, that transition to autonomous driving is, alas, opening yet one more space where one is expected to be productive.