GM’s “eyes-off” driving debuts on 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ with AI

General Motors will launch an “eyes-off” driving system on the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028, allowing drivers to engage in other activities while the vehicle navigates mapped highways autonomously. The system represents GM’s latest push into self-driving technology through a collaboration between its Super Cruise team and Cruise, GM’s former robotaxi subsidiary, positioning the automaker to compete directly with Tesla and Toyota in the personal autonomous vehicle market.

What you should know: The “eyes-off” system will enable unprecedented driver freedom on approved highways while maintaining safety through advanced sensor technology.
• Unlike Tesla’s camera-only Full Self-Driving system, GM’s approach combines lidar (laser sensors that create detailed 3D maps), radar, and cameras for decision-making.
• Drivers can eat, answer emails, watch shows, or even sleep while the system operates, provided they respond when the car alerts them to take control.
• The Escalade’s wing mirrors will light up blue to signal to other drivers that the vehicle is operating autonomously.
• If drivers don’t respond to takeover alerts, the car will automatically find a safe place to pull over.

The bigger AI integration: GM announced a suite of AI features launching alongside the new computing platform in 2028.
• A Google Gemini chatbot integration will debut next year, helping drivers make natural language requests like finding nearby coffee shops.
• A custom-built AI system will learn and retain personal preferences including favorite music, temperature settings, and mirror positions.
• The AI will proactively provide maintenance warnings and anticipate driver needs.
• All features will run on a new centralized computing platform designed to accommodate future AI updates.

Why this matters: GM is betting that AI-powered personalization and autonomy will become key differentiators as vehicles increasingly feel similar across brands.
• “This is about removing unnecessary sources of friction from your life,” says Sterling Anderson, GM’s executive vice president of global product and chief product officer.
• The strategy addresses what Edmunds editor Alistair Weaver calls automaking’s chief challenge: “Technology in vehicles is democratized”—a $189,000 Mercedes S-Class feels similar to a $22,000 Nissan Sentra.

What they’re saying: Industry experts emphasize the importance of managing driver expectations with autonomous systems.
• “If the last couple of decades have taught us anything, it’s that you can’t expect an inattentive driver to be prepared to take over at a moment’s notice. You simply can’t,” Anderson explained.
• GM’s approach focuses on solving problems drivers “aren’t even asking for today” through predictive AI: “When you get in your car, it happens to be perfect for you: The music is right, temperature is right, seat is right.”

Competitive landscape: The announcement puts GM in direct competition with other automakers pursuing personal autonomous vehicles.
• Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system relies solely on cameras, while GM’s multi-sensor approach mirrors technology used by robotaxi companies like Waymo, Google’s self-driving car division.
• Toyota is also developing self-driving systems for consumer vehicles.
• Anderson brings experience from both Tesla’s Autopilot development and Aurora, the self-driving trucking company he co-founded.