Automakers say car subscriptions could earn them $1,600 a year. Plus, news on the Kaiser Permanente health breach, phony Verizon invoice emails, and a Waymo going haywire in San Fran.
Tech ahead: AI coming for our cars
Remember “Knight Rider?” The ’80s TV show centered around a detective whose sidekick was a talking car called KITT. This futuristic sassy AI on wheels could maneuver over obstacles, drive itself at high speeds and detect a bad guy’s presence from miles away.
There was also Disney’s 1969 film, “The Love Bug.” VW Beetle “Herbie” had a quirky personality and an uncanny ability to help his driver win races. The car’s number 53 and all-white body with red, white and blue racing stripes was iconic. I even bid on Herbie at an auction in 2018 but backed out before it sold for $128,700.
Let’s steer this conversation into the future
As it turns out, Hollywood wasn’t too far off with its “futuristic” cars. Qualcomm recently announced new chips designed to make cars not just driving machines but AI on overdrive. Yep, the vehicles of tomorrow may learn more about you (and your passengers) every time you get in.
Imagine your car seamlessly switching between navigation, entertainment and messaging without you having to lift a finger. It’ll “know” your likes and dislikes … all by collecting a mountainload of data points about you.
So, what, exactly, can generative AI do for your car?
Here are some examples of how your ride is about to get a whole lot smarter:
- Voice assistants: Your car will respond based on who’s driving. For instance, if it knows you’re the usual driver, it may open the door automatically, adjust the seat for your height, set the interior temperature, give you a morning news brief and order your coffee for pickup — and even pay for it.
- Digital savvy: If you’re giving your friend a ride and someone texts you gossip about them, your car could be “smart” enough not to read that text aloud. It’s all thanks to AI’s ability to understand context.
- Enhanced safety: With over 40 different sensors including 16-megapixel cameras, your car will know when you’re approaching a dark tunnel, when the sun’s glare might blind you or if a pedestrian suddenly appears in front of you.
- Personalized zones: While only the driver gets alerts about road conditions, your kids in the backseat will stay immersed in their favorite movies or games without interruptions.
- Proactive navigation: Your car could adjust your route based on real-time traffic or weather conditions — even road closures.
- Real-time translation: Taking a road trip across the border? With AI-powered language processing, your car will offer real-time translation of road signs and assist you in conversations with locals.
- Health monitoring: AI will detect signs of stress or fatigue by analyzing your driving or your voice. Gain a few pounds? Yup, your car will tell you it’s time to cut back on those calories and direct you to the nearest gym.
Qualcomm’s already signed up heavy hitters Mercedes-Benz and China’s Li Auto, with promises of seeing this generative AI tech in action next year.
Cruising on the money train
With the vast amounts of data collected by AI-powered cars, both ad companies and automakers have new revenue streams for targeted advertising.
- Imagine personalized ads appearing on your car’s infotainment screen. “You seem hungry. How about I take us to your favorite burger joint, where you can get free fries today with your order?”
- AI voice assistants could upsell features such as advanced navigation services. “It’s cold out. I can turn on the heated seats for only $9.99 a month.”
- Digital roadside billboards could adjust their content dynamically based on the car’s data. “You won big at the casino last week! Go again now!”
Automakers want to get rid of AM radio
When I was growing up, my dad worked for United Airlines, and I traveled a lot. I would always sneak a portable AM radio in my backpack, and as the plane crisscrossed the country, I would tune into various stations along the way. Never would I have imagined what that little hobby would become for me.
Don’t leave the baby in the car: Each year, about 40 children die in car-heat-related deaths. Temps inside locked cars can easily reach 150 degrees, and advocates now want all automakers to put tech in cars to prevent these types of deaths. Some Hyundais have an advanced rear-occupant alert system that sends warnings if a baby is left in the car.
$50,000 lost
On every EV Ford sold this year. Their EV division has lost $2.5 billion so far in 2024, and they’re not alone; U.S. automakers are losing an average of $6,000 for every EV sold.
Here are the cities and states with the worst drivers
You can keep your car on the road for years or even decades with routine maintenance. Tap or click here for five monthly checks to do on your vehicle.
A well-maintained car is safe, but what about your driving habits? Do you ever feel that you’re the only good driver out there? It’s a common enough belief.
Tesla recalls 362K cars with 'Full Self-Driving' software that can cause a crash
The automotive industry is no stranger to recalls, and those can affect thousands or millions of vehicles. Nissan recently recalled over 400,000 vehicles that are potentially fitted with a dangerous airbag system that could cause serious injury. We have the list of affected vehicles and instructions for resolving the issue.
$5 billion
Investment in Rivian EVs … from Volkswagen? Yep, Rivian stock shot up over 50% following news about the two automakers teaming up. Investors are hoping Rivian will benefit from Volkwagen’s manufacturing know-how and Rivian will give them a leg up on software.
Car-tracking shocker: Automakers are sharing our driving habits with insurance companies. With help from data brokers (NY Times, paywall link) like LexisNexis, insurers know every move we make — speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, you name it. The kicker? This could spike your insurance bill. I suppose we should’ve known this was happening.
The disappearing AM radio and what you can do about it
EV automakers want to toss out the car radio. Here’s the reason why in this one-minute podcast.
Don’t make this major privacy mistake when renting a car
The holiday season is a time of togetherness. Here are a few pro tips to save time and money if you have a long drive ahead.
Are you staying in a hotel? Don’t sign into your room TV to access the streaming services. Here are three hacks to help you get the most out of your temporary TV.
Why your groceries will be more expensive in 2022
Supply chain disruptions have not only been causing product shortages, they’re also responsible for price hikes across several industries. For one, the global semiconductor chip shortage is affecting the prices and availability of electronics and tech products such as gaming consoles, computers and even cars.
In the market for a car? The chip shortage is already railroading 2022 models
The pandemic has lasting effects that we will feel for years. The chip shortage is one such issue, causing a scarcity in tech gadgets and other components, many of which are parts of larger machines.
The automotive industry has been hit particularly hard. While it’s easier to get a new car now than last year, used cars are holding their value and will continue to do so for some time. Tap or click here to check out which vehicles are retaining the most value.
Recall alert: 400K pickups recalled over risk of exploding airbags
Recalls in the automotive industry occur rather frequently. Many of them are insignificant in nature. You might have a faulty component that could cause an interior light to malfunction.
Then there are more serious recalls that deal with hazards that could put your life in danger. A glaring example recently is millions of faulty Takata airbags that have the potential to explode when deployed. Tap or click here for details on that massive recall.