GM's OnStar gets an AI makeover — but humans will still answer when airbags deploy (www.businessinsider.com)

General Motors (GM) has announced a significant AI transformation for its OnStar emergency service, enhancing its capabilities while maintaining a human touch during critical situations. At the GM Forward tech conference, Ed Nightingale, the vice president of digital products, confirmed that while AI will be integrated to offer features like real-time vehicle alerts and personalized navigation, trained human operators will still handle emergency calls when airbags deploy, citing the high stakes involved. This move reflects a balancing act in the AI/ML community, emphasizing the importance of human oversight amidst advancements in automation. GM is not only revamping OnStar into an "intelligent platform" but also unifying its mobile apps under this new brand by next summer. The rollout of the AI-driven voice assistant will first be available in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq, with plans for future vehicles. The company's focus on leveraging AI to accelerate product development—reducing the cycle for the GMC Hummer EV to just 20 months—highlights its commitment to innovation in the automotive landscape. However, GM must prove the subscription model's value to consumers to ensure widespread adoption of these new technologies.