All the talk right now is about ChatGPT.
Whether artificial intelligence leaves you feeling excited, apprehensive, or a bit of both, the integration of AI into our daily lives is nothing new. Dictionary.com states that the phrase ‘artificial intelligence’ dates back to the mid-1950s.
An effortless way into the AI conversation is to brush up on how AI is incorporated into vehicles you can buy today, and where it might be heading. Plus, if you’re in the market for a car, there’s much to embrace.
What is AI in automotive?
In an automotive sense, AI comprises of advanced sensors throughout the vehicle combined with software featuring algorithms that help the computer organise, interpret, and make decisions based on the information gathered. Just like your brain, this software can learn over time.
If a computer can sense danger faster than we can, then take action to prevent harm, that’s a no-brainer.
AI can monitor, interpret, and react to on-road situations to keep drivers safer. By creating an online network, AI in vehicles can communicate to each other to ensure they keep a safe distance, warn each other of traffic events and much more.
Tesla vehicles have interior cameras that monitor the driver to detect potentially dangerous driving conditions like drowsiness and driver inattention.
Expected in Australia late-2024, Volvo EX90’s exterior radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors is complemented with light detection and ranging (lidar) remote sensing that users laser beams to create a real-time 3D ‘map’ of the environment forward of the car, thus reaching Volvo’s highest standard level of safety ever.
Beyond the moment-to-moment AI efforts to reduce the risk of collision, technology is currently being developed that will enable your vehicle to monitor your driving style and behaviour and feed this information to insurers to tailor a policy based on your level of risk.
In-vehicle AI assistants that you can ask to perform tasks are becoming commonplace in today’s latest models – an extension of voice assistants used in our homes. The tech learns your preferences so that it can provide even more attuned service over time.
Polestar 2 was the first car in the world with Google built in, a courtesy now extended to many of its sister brand Volvo’s latest vehicle ranges.
If you drive a new Mercedes Benz, simply say ‘Hey, Mercedes’ to command features like the GPS, temperature and ambient lighting, monitor fuel levels, or tell you the temperature on Mars.
In an equipped BMW, the Intelligent Personal Assistant learns your habits to anticipate your needs, for example opening the side window automatically when entering a car park. It can even tell you route information like how many car spaces are available at your destination.
Although self-driving is not yet regulated, a host of vehicles today offer some AI driving capabilities to take care of more mundane driving tasks for us.
Tesla’s ‘summon’ feature allows you to retrieve your vehicle from a carpark and self-drive it to your location. On freeways and highways, your Tesla can change lanes for you and even enter and exit the freeway for you via the correct on and off ramps.
Meanwhile, carmakers are increasingly including adaptive cruise control as a standard feature at every price point.
Automated parking assistance is also widely available across most makes and models, using the vehicle’s sensors, cameras and driving information to calculate and manoeuvre into a carpark for us, reducing both parking stress and the risk of collision.
If you’re keen to upgrade to a more intuitive driving experience, popular electric vehicles such as Polestar 2 and Tesla are available to drive away with only a short wait.
The Electric Car Discount Act has made EVs and plug-in hybrids more affordable than ever for buyers accessing novated leasing through their employer. The act exempts fuel-efficient vehicles from fringe benefits tax, provided they’re priced under the $84,916 luxury car tax threshold1. This results in novated drivers saving thousands more each year of their lease.
If there’s another member of your household currently driving an older runabout or first car, it’s also worth considering a second lease to enable them to get into a safer car, now that many entry-level models are equipped with automated safety features.
And if nothing else, you should have a few new facts to share at your next water-cooler chat.
This article provides general information only about the vehicle/s, it should not be relied upon. SG Fleet is not the supplier or manufacturer of the vehicle and does not take any responsibility for the vehicle or the information about the vehicle contained in this article. You should make your own independent assessment of the vehicle and other sources of information (including the websites of the vehicle distributor/manufacturer).
1. Further limited guidance on the application of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Act 2022 can be found on the ATO website. A Customer considering entering into a novated lease for an electric car should seek their own independent tax, financial and legal advice regarding any proposed arrangement including the impact of such an arrangement from a salary sacrifice and reportable fringe benefits perspective. SG Fleet is not providing the Customer with legal, tax and financial advice regarding the purchase and financing of an electric car.
