Artificial intelligence was once touted only in science fiction movies and books; a dream to be achieved. We’re now in the age where driverless cars are no longer a dream, but fast becoming the next big thing in the automotive industry.

Technology has always played a huge part in the automotive industry. With car production lines amongst the first implementers of the Hawthorne Experiment findings, cars have been at the forefront of how we behave alongside machines. Technological advancements have changed from handheld spanners to robotic arms and are now moving to a full-fledged Artificial Intelligence (AI) modules.

While production will always have a limited scope, user experience with AI is a continually evolving process, developing protocols for personal experiences. What started with chips sensing tune-up schedules, we’re now on the brink of a future where cars will soon be able to be smart enough to bring themselves into the repair workshop to be fixed.

Here are some of the things which AI-powered cars will be capable of doing in the very near future.

1. Automated vehicle prognostics

All cars require tune ups, but it’s the human owners who often forget or are careless when it comes to keeping track of the car’s tune ups. However, with AI-based models, the cars themselves will continuously map the user journey to check for problems, analyse trends and inform the owners for future conditions which could crop up. This will help the car owners know everything about the car, even before it happens!

2. Service & repair estimation

Maintenance schedules can have varying costs depending on the condition of the car and usage patterns. Servicing schedules could put a dent in budgets because of uncertainty on the car owner’s part. With implemented AI modules, service costs & estimations can be a reality because it continuously monitors the condition of the car and lets its owners know what to expect. A successful module will also let the owners know the resale value to be expected at defined periods.

3. Voice commands

While a fully driverless car will take a bit more time before it’s road-ready, voice commands are already in place with some cars able to understand basic instructions for playing music, placing a call and checking for directions, to name a few. AI-based models will soon be able to converse and understand more functions, kind of like Tony Stark and his Iron Man armor. This may also be due to the fact that the previously inaccessible machine language is slowly resembling human language with every passing day.

4. Accident warnings

An integrated AI-module is able to multitask on behalf of the driver. While driving, playing a song and talking to you, the car is still calculating terabytes of data, which could be checking in on the weather, sensing humidity levels, road tractions & friction, cars & their speeds in the vicinity, gauging sudden road obstructions and more. This is important as the AI is there to keep the driver and its passengers safe, even more than the drivers themselves can manage.

5. System failure diagnosis

A fully implemented AI module will not just find out a problem, it will remedy it as well. With smart cars to be the norm in the future, successful AI modules will be able to correct most issues in a car because they will be software related. While AI components may not be changing your car tyres anytime soon, it will help in making decisions by giving an effective diagnosis, recommending a course of action and even take action where necessary.

What do you think about the implementation of AI in cars? Do you think that the car of the future will be able to function all on its own? Leave a comment below!