Who needs to squint at their tires or poke them with a coin when your car could soon announce: “Replace me, I’m bald and at risk!”? Yes, the phrase of the year among automotive project managers is ‘artificial intelligence,’ and, make no mistake, it’s here to take the wheel—well, at least when it comes to thinking for us.
AI at the Wheel: The Auto Industry’s New Hype
It’s hard to escape the presence of artificial intelligence these days. If you glanced at the Las Vegas CES program, you’d notice fewer carmakers than previous years crowding the stage. Still, those who remain are determined to flood us with ChatGPT and kindred tech that promise to reflect—or even think—in our place. We’re now living in the era of strange alliances, like TomTom partnering up with Microsoft. Who saw that coming?
Our cars have become so refined, advanced, and brimming with technology that, as of 2024, even we journalists find it almost impossible to stumble across a disastrously bad new car—except for the occasional oddball model. Differentiation among new releases mostly comes down to price, design, or those little “Tech” features. And when marketing turns up the volume, sometimes these tech add-ons start to feel a bit… unnecessary. Or do they?
Fancy Tech: Useful or Just Shiny Buttons?
Let’s not be too harsh; “unnecessary” may be going too far. Yet, as far back as 2015, a JD Powers mega-survey revealed that a significant share of in-car tech goes unused. The summary didn’t beat around the bush: “Automakers spend billions on technologies many people don’t use.”
Still, BMW, Volkswagen, Qualcomm—they all made good use of CES to spotlight ChatGPT and advanced voice assistants. Imagine a “brain” wired to your onboard computer, ready to raise the temperature, lower the audio, or dish out the weather forecast, all while diagnosing faults. Have a warning light appear on your dash? Qualcomm’s AI could step in and tell you exactly what’s troubling your car.
Volkswagen and Mercedes put their faith in ChatGPT, but BMW keeps things in-house, with AI connected to embedded data, able to field technical questions such as, “What’s the width of my car?” This AI can even calculate the remaining range of your electric vehicle if the weather takes a turn. Clever, right?
CubiX & Sightline: Tires That Think (and Talk!)
For those who hoped the car of the future would feature less circuit board wizardry—and lower repair bills—don’t hold your breath. At CES, two major suppliers joined forces to rethink your safety on the road.
On one side is German supplier ZF, known for developing and selling connected chassis with sensors, such as their CubiX system. On the other, Goodyear, which already showcased its “Sightline” solution back in 2022. Sightline isn’t just any tire; it’s a smart tire, one that communicates much more than just basic wear.
So, what happens when you pair CubiX and Sightline? At CES, their collaboration was unveiled: a vehicle capable of analyzing the road, tracking behavior, and even predicting risky situations—like aquaplaning—well before disaster strikes. It’s much like a supercharged version of ESP, only its full cost remains to be seen. For now, the primary targets are fleet and commercial vehicle markets, but keep your eyes peeled.
Will “Smart” Tires Become a Daily Reality?
Goodyear isn’t coy about its ambitions: “Tire intelligence is nothing new. These technologies exist in specialized applications, but it’s time they became available to all drivers and vehicles.” Beyond added safety (which will no doubt require real-world validation one day), do most people truly need sensors and electronic gizmos to tell them their tires are worn and need changing soon?
- Connected chassis (CubiX by ZF) and smart tires (Sightline by Goodyear) now talk to each other.
- The aim: anticipate dangerous situations before they become critical.
- For now, fleets and commercial users are the focus—but mainstream drivers could be next.
Conclusion: As automakers pour yet more intelligence under the bonnet, the line between essential tech and shiny distractions keeps blurring. Will the future see every car calmly reminding us to change our tires, or will some still rely on old-fashioned know-how and a good eye? Only time will tell. Until then, don’t ignore those warnings—whether from a blinking light or your very talkative tires.
