Ed Nightingale, vice president of Digital Products at General Motors, spoke to FOX Business about OnStar’s AI Assistant, privacy and data security.
General Motors is expanding its autonomous driving technology to more vehicles as the automaker invests in AI and software that could become a growing source of revenue.
The automaker said Wednesday at the “GM Forward” event that it will expand “eye-dead” autonomous driving to pickup trucks, crossovers and large SUVs after the technology debuts in the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028.
“We’re changing what it means to drive, and turning your car into an intelligent partner that makes your life easier,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.
The technology will allow drivers to take their eyes off the road while the vehicle is driving in certain conditions, initially on highways before expanding to other roads.
“It will land on light-duty pickups, it will land on crossovers. It will start on the highway, and it will expand off the road to other drives,” GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson.
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General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra spoke at the “GM Forward” car event in New York City on October 21, 2026.
GM’s long-term vision goes further. Automakers ultimately want vehicles to be able to complete certain tasks without a person inside, such as picking up groceries or putting away laundry.
“Finally, your car will work in a so-called internal mission mode. It handles tasks that are fun for you, such as picking up groceries and putting away laundry without you,” added Anderson.
The push for autonomous driving is part of a broader effort by GM to build more software and AI capabilities into vehicles.
The company is developing a centralized computing platform that will be rolled out in a variety of vehicles, while also introducing the OnStar AI Assistant, an in-vehicle tool designed to better understand drivers, their vehicles and their choices.
OnStar’s AI assistant is expected to launch in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq before expanding to more GM vehicles. It will be able to answer questions about the vehicle, control certain features and provide personalized assistance.
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The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV was presented at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on September 14, 2023. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)
Ed Nightingale, GM’s vice president of digital products, told FOX Business that the company initially focused on using OnStar’s AI Assistant to make it easier for drivers to interact with their vehicles.
“First of all, OnStar AI is really focused deep into the vehicle experience,” Nightingale said.
GM is also looking to address privacy and security concerns as it rolls out connected and AI-powered features.
Nightingale said customers will be able to see when data is shared and choose whether or not to opt-in. Human OnStar advisors will also be available as AI becomes more integrated into the service, especially during emergencies.
“We certainly still have humans available,” he said. “A human is always there to help you.”
GM also includes some digital services with the purchase of a new vehicle. Nightingale says buyers receive eight years of OnStar Basics, which currently includes Google Gemini and will include OnStar’s AI Assistant when it becomes available.
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General Motors showcased its OnStar AI Assistant and connected vehicle features at the “GM Forward” event in New York City. (FOX Business)
Another upcoming feature, the OnStar connected camera, will allow drivers to access footage captured by the vehicle’s camera after certain incidents. GM says the footage will be protected by end-to-end encryption and will only be accessible to authorized account holders.
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The investment could also become a more important source of revenue for GM.
UBS estimated last month that GM’s digital revenue could grow from $3.2 billion this year to $9.6 billion in 2036, calling the car’s digital capabilities an “underappreciated and underestimated opportunity.”
Reuters contributed to this report.