GM is developing its own in-car AI assistant because Google’s Gemini is unable to tap into the car's knowledge.
TL;DR: General Motors will introduce a unique AI assistant later this year that surpasses Gemini by incorporating OnStar, vehicle telemetry, and predictive maintenance features. The specific LLM provider remains undisclosed. Gemini will remain available.
General Motors is set to launch a proprietary in-vehicle AI assistant later this year that will have access to vehicle data beyond what Google’s Gemini can access. This new system will integrate with OnStar, GM's telemetry, and proprietary vehicle information to deliver predictive maintenance, real-time diagnostics, and car-specific commands that a general AI cannot offer. GM is collaborating with an undisclosed large language model provider for this technology.
“There’s a limit to what an AI that’s just sort of sitting at the top level of the vehicle can do,” stated Anna Santos, GM’s director of product management for voice and AI. Gemini, which was introduced in eligible 2022 and newer GM vehicles earlier this year, manages conversational queries, temperature, and radio controls. However, the new GM assistant will delve deeper, comprehending the vehicle’s mechanical status, driving habits, and owner preferences. Santos mentioned a “kids setting” command that would simultaneously adjust music, seats, climate, and door locks.
This differentiation is significant from a commercial standpoint. Gemini operates similarly to a phone assistant displayed on the dashboard, while GM’s proprietary system utilizes data exclusive to GM, not Google. “It’s data that’s going to be proprietary to GM,” Santos remarked. Google has been integrating AI into all of its products, and GM’s choice to develop an independent system, instead of transferring all vehicle intelligence to Gemini, echoes concerns raised by Nadella regarding companies relying solely on one AI provider.
GM is not discontinuing Gemini; both the GM and Gemini assistants will function alongside each other. The Gemini layer addresses general inquiries and entertainment, while the GM layer manages everything related to the vehicle's knowledge. Additionally, GM is advancing its autonomous driving capabilities towards readiness for robotaxis, with an in-vehicle AI that understands predictive maintenance and telemetry that will directly enhance fleet management for autonomous operations. Santos described this development as “the beginning of a broader AI journey.” The choice of an unnamed LLM provider indicates that GM is exploring multiple options for the system's underlying model, thereby avoiding a single-vendor dependency established with their Gemini partnership.
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GM is developing its own in-car AI assistant because Google’s Gemini is unable to tap into the car's knowledge.
TL;DRGM will introduce a unique AI assistant later this year that enhances Gemini by incorporating OnStar, vehicle telemetry, and predictive maintenance features. The LLM provider remains unnamed. Gemini will continue to be available. General Motors will unveil its proprietary in-vehicle AI assistant.
