Gm Plans AI Overhaul Of Onstar, Starting With Cadillac Lyriq
GM will bring an AI assistant to the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq and launch a new OnStar app, while expanding its ambitions for connected and automated vehicles.
General Motors is turning OnStar into a more interactive, AI-powered service. The company said at its GM Forward event in New York that an in-car assistant will debut in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq, with other GM vehicles to follow, according to TechCrunch. A new mobile app is also planned for 2027.
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From roadside help to in-car assistant
OnStar has long been associated with safety and roadside assistance. GM now wants it to handle more of the everyday tasks people perform in their cars. TechCrunch reports that the OnStar AI Assistant will let occupants ask about vehicle features and use voice commands for functions such as climate control. Wired says GM also envisions more complex coordination later on, such as arranging children’s pickups and drop-offs based on which parent’s car is closer. That remains a future possibility, not a launch feature.
The planned OnStar app will sync with the vehicle software and replace the existing OnStar Guardian app and GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brand apps, according to TechCrunch. The outlet describes the new assistant as an in-house effort, following GM’s earlier use of Google technology for conversational features.
Cameras and data controls
TechCrunch reports that GM also plans to connect vehicle cameras to OnStar for live views and safety recordings. Owners could configure the cameras to capture and upload footage when the vehicle detects a possible incident, such as an aggressive horn honk.
Those features put data handling in focus. TechCrunch notes that GM and OnStar faced criticism and an order finalized by the Federal Trade Commission restricting the sharing of certain consumer data with consumer reporting agencies. GM told the outlet that customers will control what they share, that recordings will be encrypted and subject to time limits, and that GM and OnStar cannot access Connected Camera recordings. A GM spokesperson said third-party sharing depends on the feature and customer consent; declining to share some data may limit related features.
Part of a wider technology shift
The OnStar announcement sits alongside broader GM plans for software and automated driving. Wired reports that GM intends to expand “eyes-off” highway driving to more of its popular vehicles, though it has not set out a timetable for full autonomy. The outlet also says GM aims to use AI to eventually halve its four- to five-year vehicle development cycle.
For technology professionals, the changes point to the software work behind GM’s vehicle plans rather than any announced hiring outcome. TechCrunch says the company has been changing its software-development approach, adopting AI tools and designing a new electrical and centralized computing architecture. GM has not announced staffing plans in these reports.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.