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Ford's AI Leap: Hands-Free Driving & Smarter Assistants Arrive
8 Jan
Summary
- Ford develops in-house AI tech for affordable advanced features.
- A Level 3 autonomous driving feature is planned for 2028.
- An AI assistant will integrate vehicle-specific data by 2027.
Ford is set to integrate advanced AI into its vehicles, beginning with an AI-powered voice assistant due to reach customers by 2027. This assistant will leverage vehicle-specific data, offering enhanced capabilities beyond general LLMs. The automaker is committed to developing core software and hardware in-house to manage costs and maintain technological control, avoiding a direct race in processor speed.
The company also announced plans for a Level 3 autonomous driving feature, slated for release in 2028 as part of its Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform launching in 2027. This move signifies a strategic pivot from fully autonomous ambitions, focusing instead on conditional driver-assist features that are more accessible and profitable.
This recalibration follows challenges with earlier EV models and a strategic shift away from fully autonomous vehicles after the closure of its Argo AI program. Ford aims to strike a balance, incorporating AI for practical applications like voice assistance and advanced driver aids, while optimizing for performance, cost, and size in its new computing architecture.
