US — The Verge
Sterling Anderson doesn’t think humanoid robots should be building cars
Mobility1 min read
General Motors (GM) unveiled a new tech plan built on AI, powerful car computers, batteries, and self-driving tech. The goal is to build smarter cars much faster. GM's chief product officer, Sterling Anderson, explained the plan in an interview.
GM shows its new tech plan
At an event in New York City, GM showed a new plan for making cars. The plan uses artificial intelligence (AI), central car computers, better batteries, and driving without a human's hands on the wheel. Some of these ideas were already known. The new part is how all the pieces work together as one system.
Key facts
- GM wants to cut car development time in half.
- A typical car takes four to five years to develop. GM aims for just over two years.
- Engineers can now run thousands of virtual crash tests instead of building a few real prototypes.
- Before, one prototype crash test could take six months.
Why GM is making this change
GM faces tough competition. Fast, low-cost Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are growing around the world. EV sales in the US have slowed down, so GM has had to change its plans for electric cars. The company is also spending billions on new battery factories and on software.
Why it matters
This is a big bet. If the new AI systems do not work well, or if they are late, GM could lose a lot of money. It could also fall further behind Tesla, a company that was built around software from the start. Anderson says the faster process can also make cars safer, because virtual tests give quick feedback.
What to watch
- Whether GM's AI and self-driving systems work well in real cars.
- Whether GM really cuts car development time to about two years.
- How GM's new battery plants and EV sales perform.
- How GM competes with Chinese EV makers and Tesla.
Glossary
- General Motors
- A large American car company based in Detroit that makes and sells cars and trucks.
- Sterling Anderson
- GM's chief product officer, who leads what new products the company makes.
- AI
- Artificial intelligence, computer systems that can learn patterns and make decisions from data.
- EV
- Electric vehicle, a car that runs on electricity from a battery instead of gasoline.
- Tesla
- An American company that makes electric cars and was built around software from the start.