Personalized by AI

InTrans / Sep 01, 2017

Go! Magazine

posted on September 1, 2017

Artificial intelligence, or “AI” for short, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, rather than humans or animals. AI is bringing the technology we already have to the next level and creating new, futuristic forms of technology that could soon become the norm. So, the real question here at GO! Magazine is how is AI changing the automotive industry? And what kinds of advancements could we see in cars by 2020?

In our last few articles, we’ve already looked at how AI is allowing cars to become more autonomous and ways that artificial intelligence could help insurance companies keep track of and charge their customers more accurately, with comprehensive vehicle tracking. But with the abundance of opportunities that AI will allow for in the coming years, we’ve only just begun to cover how technology could mold the automotive industry in the not-so-distant future.

It’s personal

Let’s talk about personalization: What is personalization? Personalization means customizing a product or service to accommodate an individual or group of people. Personalization can be a way to meet the customer’s needs and enhance the experience.

Before now, personalization in the automotive industry has been limited to things like accessories. In the past, car personalization has been either stylistic or functional. Things like new car rims would be stylistic and something like a bike rack or tow hitch would be functional. But now, AI is taking car personalization to the next level. In the not-so-distant future, with the help of AI, our cars will not only reflect our personalities, they will have the ability to adapt to them as well.

Internet apps in the car. Photo from Michael Sheehan via Wikimedia Commons.

Your car could be made as unique as your fingerprint. And something to consider in our contemporary market-driven society is that more customization allows for more customized marketing. For example, platforms like Facebook and Twitter and search engines like Google are already customizing the ads you see to your behavior. And in the future, your car could behave the same way. Personalized in-car marketing is forecasted to impact consumers by 2020, as the average car will be fully connected to the internet. And with that, marketers could have a whole new way to get their messages across.

Personalized by AI

So, what does a personalized car look like?

Examples we can already observe today include internet capability or an engine calibrated for fuel efficiency or general performance. In the future, each car could reflect the needs of the driver and their specific ecosystem. For example, a vehicle could change the way its engine and transmission operate based on the terrain. Overall, these developments could make cars better machines that more effectively serve the driver in their environment. By analyzing data, a vehicle could adjust to guarantee a fully optimized driving experience, personalized to the road.

In general, the option for personalization will shift the market away from a one-size-fits-all model though. Rather, a software-driven personalized automotive experience is on the horizon. Think of the future of automobile personalization like the progression of the smartphone. Just 10 years ago, Apple released the first iPhone in 2007. Today, 77 percent of Americans own some kind of smartphone. These gadgets, capable of adapting to our lives entirely, can help us keep up with friends, schedule appointments, remember meetings and classes, make calls, and display unique personalities. In the future, our automobiles could do all the same things.