General Motors took to the stage on October 22 during its “GM Forward” event, but it wasn’t there to promote another shiny electric car. Instead, the company painted a picture straight out of a Jetsons cartoon, describing a world where cars can think, talk, and even drive themselves.
It sounded like science fiction mixed with Saturday morning cartoons—except, this time, it’s actually happening.
Still, one big question hangs in the air: Are we really ready to take our eyes off the road?
### GM Offering Eyes-Off Technology
GM focused on two main innovations: conversational AI and eyes-off driving technology.
Starting in 2026, GM plans to integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system into its vehicles. Rather than tapping buttons or scrolling through screens, you’ll simply talk to your car. Whether you want to find a new coffee shop, message your boss, or plan your route home, you’ll be able to ask your car out loud. It will respond in a natural, almost human-like voice.
GM says this new AI will learn your preferences over time, growing smarter with every drive.
“Our vision is to create a car that knows you, looks out for you, and meets your needs even before you say a word,” said Sterling Anderson, GM’s chief product officer, during the event. “Autonomy will make our roads safer. It will give customers back their most valuable asset: time. It’ll be a cornerstone of GM’s product portfolio going forward.”
David Richardson, a former Apple executive and now GM’s vice president of software and services engineering, added, “In the future, we will introduce our own AI fine-tuned to your vehicle. Think of this as an assistant that anticipates your needs, offers timely help, and makes every journey more personable and enjoyable.”
### The Next Step: Eyes-Off Driving
But that’s just the beginning.
By 2028, GM plans to roll out what it calls “eyes-off” driving—technology that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road while cruising on certain mapped highways. This feature will debut in the all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ, expected to retail for around $127,500.
At first, the system won’t work everywhere or all the time. It will only be available on highways GM has mapped in detail—covering more than 600,000 miles across North America so far.
The cars will utilize multiple sensors, including cameras, radar, and lidar, to “see” their surroundings. Unlike Tesla’s camera-only approach, GM’s multi-layered detection system provides extra safety.
This technology builds on GM’s current Super Cruise driver-assist system, which has already logged over 700 million hands-free miles without any reported crashes caused by the system.
If everything goes according to plan, drivers could one day relax during long highway trips—reading, texting, or even taking a nap while the car does the work.
### Challenges Ahead
Of course, plenty of hurdles remain.
Regulators will need to approve the new system. Insurance companies will have to rethink liability when the car technically becomes the driver.
### The Dangers of Increased Automation
Not everyone views this as progress.
Critics warn that as drivers become more reliant on automation, their attention and reaction times may diminish. Studies show that even when people know they’re supposed to stay alert, they often relax too much when the car takes over. This reduced attentiveness could impair their ability to respond in emergencies.
Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveals that drivers tend to multitask when using partial automation. Sometimes, they learn how to bypass the system’s attention requirements.
“If you train them to think that paying attention means nudging the steering wheel every few seconds, that’s exactly what they’ll do,” explained IIHS President David Harkey.
When drivers use assisted-driving tools, they often feel more relaxed because the car seems to “take care of things.” That means less attention on their part—and even a few seconds’ delay in taking control can have serious safety consequences.
### Beyond Safety: The Human Factor
Driving isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. For many, it symbolizes control, freedom, independence, and an awareness of the world around them.
Giving up that control—even partially—can have negative effects.
A large review published by PubMed Central examined 16 studies of drivers aged 55 and older who stopped driving. It found that giving up driving was “associated with declines in general health and physical, social, and cognitive function,” as well as increased risks of long-term care admission or death.
The review also noted that older adults who stopped driving had about twice the odds of experiencing depressive symptoms compared to those who continued driving.
Similarly, a study of 6,916 U.S. adults aged 65 and older found that those who stopped driving had double the odds of increased social isolation compared to peers who still drove.
### How Much Are You Willing to Give Up to AI?
It may have looked fun in the Jetsons, and having a car that takes care of everything may seem like a way to relax or be more productive. But just how much of your life are you willing to surrender to artificial intelligence?
The old adage, “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” feels more relevant than ever as AI integrates deeper into our lives.
Perhaps AI researcher and writer Eliezer Yudkowsky sums it up best:
> “By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.”
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As GM pushes forward with cutting-edge AI and eyes-off driving technology, the journey toward autonomous vehicles continues—but so does the conversation about safety, control, and our relationship with driving itself.
https://www.libertynation.com/gm-to-offer-eyes-off-vehicles-in-near-future/
