Innovation in Automotive Design

Vanderbilt Data Science is excited to spotlight an innovative collaboration between Nissan and our dedicated Data Science students, focused on developing an AI chatbot that embodies diverse customer personas. This project, conducted under the Wondry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, represents a significant leap forward in how Nissan can engage with its customer base to create cutting-edge technology that can help inform future vehicle designs.

Consumer Insights-Centric Approach: The AI Chatbot

At the heart of this initiative is a sophisticated AI chatbot designed to represent various customer segments, such as ‘frugalists,’ ‘adrenaline speedsters,’ and ‘environmentalists.’ By leveraging large language models, the chatbot simulates interactions that provide Nissan’s product planning team with deeper insights into each segment’s preferences. This AI-driven tool enables the team to test ideas, refine designs, and gather consumer feedback, ensuring that the vehicles Nissan creates not only meet current market demands but also stay relevant for years to come.

Data-Driven Persona Development

The DSI students, known as Vanderbilt Innovation Fellows, are engaged in a paid, semester-long independent study that focuses on this project. Led by Project Manager Mubarak A. Ganiyu, the students have been meticulously analyzing Nissan’s data to develop these customer personas. Previous students Sruthi Pappu, Danny Rosen, Thao Nguyen, Ricky Sun, Yuning Wu, and Vaibhav Gupta contributed to the project’s foundational stages. The current cohort includes Sai Peesapati, Margo Kim, Vaibhav Gupta (CS), Keqing Liu, and Yuhui Wu, all of whom are playing crucial roles in advancing the chatbot’s capabilities. By synthesizing feedback from surveys and understanding the distinct motivations of each segment, they aim to create an accurate representation of consumer expectations. This data-driven approach is crucial for informing Nissan’s design strategy, allowing the team to prioritize features and innovations that truly matter to their customers.

Overcoming Challenges for Enhanced Performance

Initially, the project faced challenges related to computational power, which limited the chatbot’s ability to deliver nuanced conversations. However, with Nissan’s investment in enhanced computing resources, the students can now improve the chatbot’s performance, leading to more insightful interactions and a richer understanding of consumer preferences.

A Forward-Thinking Initiative

As part of their independent study, the DSI students are leveraging their expertise to create a product that addresses immediate challenges while positioning Nissan for future success. By the end of the semester, they aim to deliver a fully functional chatbot that effectively represents customer segments and assists the product team in designing vehicles that resonate with consumers.

This innovative project underscores Vanderbilt Data Science’s commitment to driving the integration of AI in the automotive industry. Through this collaboration between Nissan and the Wondry, the development of a chatbot that embodies customer personas places Nissan at the forefront of consumer-centric automotive design, ensuring its vehicles not only remain relevant but ahead of the curve, in an ever-evolving market.

Contact

For inquiries, feel free to reach out to datascience@vanderbilt.edu.