AI, supercomputers, and autonomous driving: Ford looks to the future
Ford took advantage of CES in Las Vegas this week to make a series of announcements in the field of technology.
In the short term, a new AI-powered assistant will begin rolling out in Ford and Lincoln mobile apps by mid-2026 and in vehicles starting in 2027. Unlike ChatGPT or Gemeni, this assistant will know the vehicle's specifications and the driver's preferences in order to provide more accurate and personalized responses and suggestions.
For example, Ford says, it could warn if the tires are overinflated for off-road use or recommend a driving mode based on the context. You could take a photo of a pallet of bags of mulch at the garden center, and the assistant would tell you how many would fit in the bed of your pickup truck.
Another announcement from the blue oval automaker is a supercomputer developed entirely in-house that will power its infotainment, networking, and driver assistance systems in the future. By concentrating all functions into a single, ultra-powerful unit, engineers will be able to reduce architectural complexity, speed up operations, and increase versatility, according to the company.
This mega electronic brain has been in development for more than seven years thanks to a dedicated team called “Sunrise.”
Finally, the American giant plans to launch a semi-autonomous driving system that will allow drivers to take their eyes off the road starting in 2028. It will be part of the new generation of models built on the universal electric vehicle platform unveiled last summer, which will be inaugurated by an affordable mid-size pickup truck.
With this greatly improved BlueCruise system, Ford wants to democratize assisted driving technology and not just make it available to drivers of high-end vehicles. It will apparently cost 30% less to design and implement than if Ford turned to external suppliers.
