GM’s Push to Revolutionize Driving with Eyes-Off Autonomy and Conversational AI

GM has unveiled a plan to transform automobiles into something far more than just rolling pieces of metal. They revealed the specifics about two major advancements at a recent event in New York: a system that allows you to look away from the road and a conversational AI that feels almost like you’re talking to a friend. Both are expected to be available in the coming years, with the Cadillac Escalade IQ receiving these technologies first.

In 2028, General Motors will begin rolling out an ‘eyes-off’ driving system, beginning with the Cadillac Escalade IQ. The concept is that you can completely detach from steering and observe the road, but only on certain roadways. A bright turquoise light will illuminate the dashboard and side mirrors, signaling to everyone inside and out that the car is in charge. GM’s system differs from those that rely just on cameras in that it uses LiDAR, radar, and cameras to gain a much greater knowledge of what’s going on. Plus, real-world driving data helps the system become wiser, while simulations test it against a variety of difficult conditions that do not occur very often. It’s all about making this system dependable and secure so you can sit back and relax while the car does the driving – whether you want to read a book, send a text, or simply unwind.

The other half of GM’s goal is conversational AI, which will arrive sooner – in 2026, with GM vehicles integrating Google’s Gemini AI. It allows you to communicate with your car in a way that is similar to talking to a passenger. Need to write a text, discover a charging station near your favorite diner, or prepare for a meeting? Everything’s taken care of. In the future, GM intends to transition from Gemini to a bespoke AI that is integrated with the OnStar system. This AI will be familiar with your vehicle and able to provide specific guidance, such as explaining how one-pedal driving works. Maybe even identifying a maintenance issue before it becomes a problem. And, with your consent, it will begin to learn your routines and propose things like dining spots based on previous travels or even warming up your car before your daily drive.


The eyes-off system and AI are powered by a new centralized computing platform, which will also arrive in 2028 with the Escalade IQ. This design essentially connects all important systems – steering, braking, propulsion, infotainment, and safety – to a high-speed Ethernet backbone, a significant improvement over GM’s previous systems. This is a big improvement, with 35 times as much AI processing power and 1,000 times the bandwidth. The vehicle can receive fresh software upgrades over the air, so it will continue to improve long after it leaves the showroom. And, to demonstrate the platform’s versatility, it will be utilized in gas-powered vehicles as well, laying the groundwork for GM’s future plans.

Aside from cars, General Motors is investing heavily in artificial intelligence. At its Autonomous Robotics Center in Michigan and a lab in California, a 100-plus team of engineers is developing smarter manufacturing robots – robots that can work alongside people and improve with each passing year by essentially learning from years of production data. This can only improve efficiency and safety in GM’s manufacturing facilities. They are also working on some really intriguing energy ideas, such as using electric vehicles to power your home and selling some of that power back to the grid. Starting in 2026, a new “rental program” for GM’s Energy house System will provide EV owners (and eventually others) with bi-directional charging and house batteries via a smartphone app, making life easier.