GM promises smarter cars, faster updates, and autonomous dry-cleaning runs
General Motors hosted its 'Onward' tech event to outline ambitious plans to transform from a traditional automaker into an AI-driven technology company. The company pledged to cut vehicle development cycles in half using digital thread virtualization, introduce powerful new compute hardware, and expand autonomous driving features.
Why it matters
Traditional automotive giants are increasingly under pressure to adopt software-first, AI-driven development paradigms to compete with emerging tech-heavy manufacturers.
General Motors is still very much in the business of selling gas-guzzling trucks and massive SUVs. But if you listen to its leadership, the Detroit giant is rapidly transforming into a nimble, software-defined tech player with a tightened grip on AI.
That was the pitch today, when GM hosted its tech-focused Onward event to unveil a wide-ranging slate of EV, autonomous vehicle, and AI initiatives — all aimed at fending off the rising threat of tech-heavy Chinese automakers.
The promises are big: GM claims it will use AI to cut vehicle development times in half, introduce compute units up to 40 times more powerful than its current hardware, model next-gen battery chemistries in record time, and bring eyes-off autonomous driving to its top-selling trucks and SUVs.
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