👀 Your car is spying on you: The average new car is packed with approximately 1,400 microchips collecting a ton of data on you. Plug in your car’s VIN here to see what your manufacturer knows. Click Get the Report to see details like your name, address and maybe even recordings of your voice.
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!”
Google Search is dying
Younger people are turning to AI chatbots, TikTok and Reddit for answers instead. Gen-Z is also sticking with older cars to avoid new tech and high costs. Plus, Chipotle is using robots for avocado prep, and we’ll show you how to turn your smart TV into a photo frame.
Built-in backseat driver: New Nissan cars with the ProPilot Assist 2.1 system will “yell” at drivers for going too slow. If the car in front is moving slowly, it’ll alert you to move into the passing lane. It’ll also tell you to get out of the fast lane if you’ve been in it for too long — you know, since it’s strictly for passing, right? Yes, you can turn off this function if it gets annoying.
Google’s Street View relies on cars with multiple cameras for its pics. What was the first animal Google hired to capture a place they couldn’t access by car? Was it a … A.) Bird, B.) Camel, C.) Gorilla or D.) Penguin?
Every 13 miles
How often Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode requires human intervention. In a 1,000-mile test, drivers had to intervene to prevent dangerous behavior more than 75 times. The good: Self-driving mode brakes for pedestrians and lets oncoming cars through. The bad: It also runs red lights and drives into oncoming traffic. Just say no.
💸 $260 million heist: Two men were arrested at a Florida mansion, surrounded by jewelry and luxury cars, after stealing 4,100 in bitcoin from a Washington, D.C., tech billionaire. The scammers laundered the money through crypto exchanges and went on a wild spending spree (paywall link). I bet the scammers SIM-swapped the billionaire’s phone. Here’s how it works and how to protect yourself.
Torque of the town: In the EU, all new cars are required to alert drivers when they’re driving too fast. If a bill passes in California, every 2030 and later model would need GPS or a front-facing cam, along with a function to deliver notifications to drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mph. Wonder where all that data will end up …
A penny for your trucks: In Memphis, a tracker led police to the second chop shop in less than a week. The owners of a stolen pickup followed the GPS device to an industrial area. Days later, police came back with a warrant and found five cars. The suspect is in jail. I use an AirTag or get one of these car trackers for $15.
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🚙 Break my wallet: BMW is going all in on hydrogen-powered cars starting with its 2028 models (paywall link). How it works: Hydrogen fuel cells within the vehicles generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only emission is water vapor. Sounds sweet, but hydrogen is more expensive than gas, and there are almost no refueling stations in the U.S.
The future is hybrid
Volvo just dropped its all-electric plan, joining other carmakers moving away from EVs. With limited charging stations and a focus on hybrids, the push for electric cars is losing steam.
New cars, AI, and unhappy customers
Thinking about splurging on a new car? Discover why some of the latest high-tech features might be more hassle than they’re worth and how you can save big by skipping the tech gimmicks.
Find the best deals for used cars
It’s a good time to get a used car. Not sure what to look for and how to score a great price? I have a few tips to get you on the road.
Waymo nightmares
San Francisco is fed up with Waymo’s driverless cars causing chaos, and they’re planning to expand to cities nationwide. Don’t think it’s just their problem — your town could be next.
🚘 Wrap it up: You’ve seen them on the street — cars wrapped in giant advertisements. Believe it or not, doing this to your ride pays pretty well. You can make $100 to $450 per month! Want to try it out? Go with Carvertise if you also do a rideshare; otherwise, check out Wrapify.
64% fewer stolen cars
After Kia and Hyundai’s anti-theft software upgrades. The 2023 free update fixed shoddy security measures that made it way too easy to steal the vehicles. Drive one and not sure if you got the update? Call your dealership.
Is your car bricked? Since AT&T killed off 3G over two years ago, owners of 2014 to 2019 Volkswagens with VW Car-Net services have been in analog, so to speak. Without wireless connectivity, they no longer have features like remote start, emergency assistance or antitheft alerts. Volkswagen still doesn’t have a fix, and some 3G-reliant Hyundai and Nissan models are screwed, too. Cars with 4G should have until at least 2035. PSA: Check the connectivity specs before you buy, folks.
$1.25 per issue
For a Popular Science magazine in 1978. Old editions like this one were loaded with cigarette promos, limited-run cars like the Jeep Honcho and DIY kits for early home computers like the Sol-20. I always get a kick out of ‘70s ad copy. They just don’t write them like they used to!
$108,150 salary
To be a cop in Plano, Texas. Big-city police departments were having trouble recruiting, so they pulled out all the stops (paywall link). Perks include take-home cars, paid workout hours and a relaxed tattoo policy. It’s working — more officers joined in 2023 than in the four years prior.