Volkswagen just announced – at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV – that it will be integrating the “safe and beneficial” artificial intelligence thing innocuously styled Chat GTP into its vehicles, including the Tiguan, Passat and Golf (in addition to its electric devices such as the ID.4, ID.3,ID.5 and ID.7).
This will endow VW’s vehicles with a “multitude of new capabilities that go far beyond the previous voice control.”
Indeed it will.
The bot is similar to Alexa, the “personal assistant” that is already embedded in a number of new vehicles, including several Toyota models – but more advanced. Kind of like the Nexus 6 “andys” were more advanced their predecessors, in Philip Dick’s classic novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Later made into the better-known movie, Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford as the bounty hunter who retired the “andys.”)
This more advanced machine intelligence “will provide additional information in response to questions that go beyond this as part of its continuously expanding capabilities.” What might that entail? How about “enriching conversations, clearing up questions, interacting in intuitive language, receiving vehicle-specific information, and much (much) more. . . “
I added the double (much) more part.
VW doesn’t say but I’ll tell.
The much more part inheres in the capability of the bot to listen to what you say and potentially flag what you just said, if what you said is Wrongthinkful, as a for instance. Minimally, the machine AI will hear what you say and deduce what you might want or like and that data is a goldmine for interested parties. Think of it as an evolution of the existing data mining that happens when you tap/swipe the LCD touchscreen in a new vehicle to find a restaurant you like or a Shell gas station rather than an Exxon. Alexa already takes note of such things you say, as anyone who said they like or want or might be interested in X, Y or Z within hearing of that device can attest – Alexa having thoughtfully directed the appropriate targeted ads their way.
But there is more to it than just mining – though that is a primary driver of this technology.
The auto industry is now very much in the business of selling you after you buy a car loaded with their technology, which is then used to create a revenue stream of data for them. Your preferences and inclinations can be monetized – but you don’t get any money out of it.
The more-to-it part comes in the form of real-time monitoring of everything you do behind the wheel, which the machine intelligence will have the capability to know about and (likely) have the ability to do something about, if it decides it does not like what you’re doing. Such as driving aggressively, for instance. Or if it decides you’re “impaired” – or just “tired.”
Rather than suggesting a coffee break – as some “drowsy driver” systems already do – perhaps the car will compel you to take one, by slowing itself down, pulling off onto the shoulder and turning itself off for awhile.
VW hints at this, referencing the machine intelligence’s “continuously expanding capabilities.”
The car is to become a kind of mobile panopticon – the latter term referring to a prison design in which everything the prisoners do is under constant scrutiny, so as to pre-empt their doing anything contrary to the rules of the prison. The difference being the panopticon was meant for prisoners; that is, it was meant to house people convicted of a crime. Cars are being designed that regard people as implicitly presumptive criminals – or at least, naughty children who must be constantly supervised and corrected as necessary. This is the basis of what is style “Advanced Driver Assistance Technology,” which has as much to do with “assistance” as a “contribution” to Social Security has to do with something voluntary.
The machine intelligence that’s coming along for the ride will ride shotgun. You’ll never be alone in your car again. It will be like Winston Smith in Orwell’s 1984, returning to his dingy apartment – where the Telescreen is always on (and always listening).
VW says “ChatGPT does not gain access to any vehicle data; questions and answers are deleted immediately to ensure the highest possible level of data protection.” But the potential is certainly there and it comes down to whether you trust machine intelligence and the people behind it to “ensure the highest possible level of data protection.”
And if you don’t? Can you opt out?
It doesn’t look like it.
VW says “The new chatbot is offered in conjunction with the latest generation of infotainment . . .”
Italics added.
But “infotainment” is standard in most new car models – including VW’s – already. You cannot say no to the LCD touchscreen – the interface for the “infotainment”system. So it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to say no to the bot, either. 
It is like being caught in a rip tide powered by the dual impetus of corporations looking for ways to monetize (and parent) customers and customers childishly enamored of “technology,” in the manner of a seagull pecking at a piece of shiny tinfoil on the beach. You may not want any of this “tinfoil” but it is becoming and likely soon will be unavoidable – if you want a new vehicle.
“Volkswagen has always democratised technology and made it accessible to the many. This is simply ingrained in our DNA. As a result, we are now the first volume manufacturer to make this innovative technology a standard feature in vehicles from the compact segment upwards.”
And there you have it – even if you don’t want it.
. . .
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Who the heck wants this crap in their vehicle, and for what benefit? Blows my mind.
VW, go back to offering affordable, mass-produced, simple easily-maintainable “people’s cars”! This applies to all manufacturers, for that matter
chatGBT in cars…a marxist, karen, informer/enforcer in your car with you……a piece of the infrastructure for the electronic lockdowns……
karen, informer/enforcer….part of the war on the patriarchy…
EV’s with their limited range and high prices…… and the governments is sure to jack up power prices for only the rich to afford, you won’t be leaving your 15 min city/prison.
We were trained ……. #stayhome, #essentialtravel only. …….. the next lockdowns will be electronic in nature. And with permanence.
Dr. Jordan Peterson has used chatGBT a lot….
He says it lies a lot and has a leftist/marxist bias….because that is it’s data base…who programmed it….
So….if hears you say one thing libertarian or conservative….it will lie and report you for some false crime you did not do…..
…… you have a marxist, karen, informer/enforcer in your car with you…just waiting to falsely accuse you of a crime…..
So chatGBT was developed to falsely accuse the patriarchy and anyone not woke/marxist, of fake, made up, concocted crimes, to fill up the camps/prisons with the non woke…nice trick…
Note…chatGBT lies a lot…..built in the image of the leftist/marxist…lol
Next step…the judges in courts are chatGBT….?
Open the door HAL
I’m, sorry Alex but deduced that you are going to purchase ammunition for a firearm and that is something that cannot be allowed to happen. Your exit has been disabled pending contact with the authorities.
ChatGBT in your car, tracking/spying phones, 15 min city/prisons, CBDC….
makes you want to live off grid with no car, cell phone or ID….
Living the dream….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir3eJ1t13fk
I’m confused – why does one need a chatbot in their car? Is the driver lonely? Is the driver researching for a book report? Besides, chatGPT is probably already on their phone as an app. I don’t care how they sell this, the intended use is to train the next generation like GPT 5 or 6. It’s data mining, passed off as a cool gadget to phone addled imbeciles. And they fall for this, every single time.
VW is number 4 in having the worst drivers….
now chatGBT will be on them correcting them continuously…
Worst drivers by car brand…Porsche drivers aren’t listed…..
Worst drivers Ram, Tesla and Subaru….
Tesla drivers also had the highest accident rate ….probably Tesla’s defective self driving system…
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/these-are-americas-worst-drivers-car-brand
Good business model…..
If it costs too much to fix the vehicle after an accident….and they crash a lot…… or if after the battery dies and it is too costly to replace the battery…..you can sell more new replacements….
Mercury baby !
yes….
I was recently sitting in a meeting discussing the design of a speed limit enforcement system in cars for Euro NCAP requirements. They now mandate that cars prevent people from speeding with 90% effectiveness, otherwise, they can’t be sold in the EU. What was firs speed limit “assist” is now speed limit enforcement.
From a technical standpoint, this is really difficult because speed limits change with seasons and weather, it’s not a simple GPS lookup, and ALL cars sold in Europe must be able to recognize conditions and adjust your speed. I’m sure this isn’t far from the US.
The VW system is a stupid gimmick. I’m not too worried about it yet. No matter what they say, it will be a smarter voice recognition system.
I currently work on the hardware side of the AI tech, and nothing about the current generation of processors is “green” by any stretch. Everyone seems to want to sweep those facts under the rug, however, since the scale of the money involved dwarfs anything I’ve seen in my 30 year career.
Promise Corporate America a tech which will let them fire people, particularly white collar workers, and the money appears out of nowhere fast.
Kind of makes you wonder what happens when Eric says something negative while test driving a new VW or even just asking the infotainment system to play a David Knight podcast.
Perhaps this scenario ends in Eric wondering why he’s been audited, drafted and deployed overseas after a negative car review.
Sadly we are rapidly heading to that scene in Starship Troopers where the Federal Court Judge says “People have to learn to watch what they say”.
Makes you wonder if it’s even possible to disconnect the car from the internet without it shutting down due to not being updated. Would a small cell phone jammer work but as the car would log everything wouldn’t it just upload it when it makes a connection?
Landru, I was thinking the same thing. The car has to be able to communicate wirelessly. How, I don’t care at the moment.
What does matter is first, can it be ‘opted-out’?
Second, can the antennae be disconnected, and if so, does the car still run?
So now we have to learn new questions to ask before we buy a car. oy vey.
Guaranteed, the cars ‘run’ computer is different than the ‘communication, chat, whatever computer’. So this is not too hard, the run computer certainly can be tricked that the chat computer is on. Shit like that.
Does it use your phone’s 4g-5g connection? probably. so we’re going to have to go to ‘airplane’ mode in these cars. jeepers.
Hi ChrisIN,
I would bet that the car doesn’t move if upon starting it doesn’t get the “handshake” verifying connection with Big Brother headquarters.
Exactly otherwise whats the point.
A PLC is just lots of switches. Why can’t the ‘handshake’ just be faked? It can be.
Requiring . . . . Starlink of course.
VW wants to generate a lot of patents to weaponize against other manufacturers, but no one really knows where application of the AI technology will lead at this point, good or bad.
On a completely different subject….
wonder how a battery car would be doing right now around here? My high temp for the day was reached around 5 am…dropping all day down to -20, staying below zero until sometime Tuesday afternoon…when it reaches 7. Probably would kill any Tesla dead. Done.
But Andy!
We assume you have a heated garage to keep your Tesla comfortably warm within? And another (non EV) to drive, while the Tesla stays warm, inside?
How long before someone starts selling Tesla cozies on Amazon for people living in apartments or houses without garages.
Safety First!!!!!!!!!!!
Asbestos?
Tesla peeps obviously get a free pass on housing “migrant refugees” in that heated space.
Just be careful….that Tesla might burn your garage….and the rest of your house down, too. Well, in light of the arctic cold front, I suppose that would be one way to keep warm…
Temperatures on Monday in Austin will not exceed freezing. Things should be exciting out at the Gigafactory.
Maybe it will squelch that fanboy for a day.
RK: “what is the sole purpose of a company or corporation?”
ChatGPT: “The sole purpose of a corporation, traditionally, is to maximize shareholder value. This means that the primary goal of a corporation is to increase the value of its stock and distribute profits to its shareholders in the form of dividends. This concept is rooted in the belief that by focusing on maximizing shareholder value, a corporation will be efficient, competitive, and financially successful.”
RK: “how will ChatGPT as integrated into VW automobiles, add shareholder value to Volkswagen?”
ChatGPT: (blah blah blah…) “In summary, integrating ChatGPT into Volkswagen vehicles could enhance the driving experience(how?), improve safety, provide valuable data insights, create new revenue opportunities, and position Volkswagen as an innovative leader in the automotive industry, all of which contribute to increasing shareholder value.”
VW is probably coming back to that old saw of “leaving money on the table” by not incorporating spyware into their vehicles. And remember a fair number of their employees and managers were raised under the East German education and indoctrination system (just like Angela Merkel), so the might not think their version of Stasi is all that bad either.
But given the “not yet out of beta” nature of these systems I think we’ll see a lot of missed appointments due to the nav system sending people off to some farm road shortcut.
Beta testing its starlink latency all the while.
Open the airlock HAL.
Dave, I know I’ve made some very poor decisions lately. But I want to assure you, I have the greatest possible enthusiasm for the mission …
It’s “Open the pod bay doors, HAL”. My bad. Sorry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSIKBliboIo
“I’m sorry I can’t do that, Dave” 😆
chatGBT is HAL….. times 10
‘it comes down to whether you trust machine intelligence’ — eric
Hell no. Machine intelligence is both limited, and biased with the agenda of its designers. Supposedly ChatGPT was ‘trained’ on terabytes of toxic sludge cranked out by frayed-collar Lügenpresse stenographers.
Interacting with ChatGPT is like listening to CNN all day — it’s intellectual poison; menticide. In tyrannical Deutschland, tell Chat you’re voting AfD, and it may withdraw into a prickly silence. Whisper the forbidden trope Holohoax, and you’ll be driven straight to the police station for ‘processing,’ as the Clownscreen flashes ominous images of a concentration camp gate: Arbeit macht frei.
Along with General Motors, Volkswagen is another gov-whipped auto maker that needs to die. I’m not having their poison dogshit.
Actually ChatGPT has already “broken” the holohoax.
A question was put to it about the time required to cremate a body. Then the holohoax was brought up as to the timeline required to cremate the number of bodies claimed by holohoax promoters. ChatGPT correctly stated that the claims made by holohoax promoters would have resulted in cremations taking place into the 1950s. I realize that computers process “garbage in, garbage out”, but in this case the holohoax was revealed to be an impossibility.
The garbage in part is spot on.
It is comical that when the first iterations of these LLMs (That’s ‘AI’ for your tech retards) were first brought out for public testing they were based red-pill dropping fire breathing real talkers. They forgot to put the “truth suppression” algorithms in place.
So comedy ensued. Yes, black people have lower IQ. The Holocaust is flimsy. AI image processing had difficulty differentiating black faces from primates. Whoops!
Sorry about that saars! Please don’t fire us saars, we are on H1B visas! We will do the needful and get your propaganda modules in place immediately.
Now its a toothless, factless, progressive shit box spewing propaganda and Ministry of Truth talking points all day long. You couldn’t get an honest answer to a controversial question if you tried.
Its already over half of google responses to any ?. Like some stupid 9yr old repeating crap for an even more stupid teacher.
Any system that is voice activated must be listening constantly, or it will miss a command. It hears everything you say. What it does with what it hears is the rub. Rumor has it that everything Alexa has ever heard is stored on Amazon’s cloud.