GM injects AI into OnStar: from in-vehicle call center to intelligent assistant platform
General Motors has unveiled the new OnStar AI Assistant, which will debut on the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq, and plans to launch a new version of the OnStar mobile app in 2027, replacing OnStar Guardian and the separate apps for each brand. The assistant is developed in-house by GM, with the goal of transforming OnStar from an accident-assistance call center into a connected intelligent platform that can proactively offer suggestions. Vehicle cameras will also be integrated with OnStar, enabling real-time viewing of the surroundings outside the car and automatic recording of video of unusual events.
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According to information released by General Motors, the all-new OnStar AI Assistant will debut in the upcoming 2027 Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle, and will gradually expand to more GM brand models in the future. At the same time, the company plans to launch a new version of the OnStar mobile app in 2027, enabling deep synchronization and integration with the in-vehicle system.
The new OnStar app will replace the existing OnStar Guardian app as well as the separate mobile clients for Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC, thereby forming a unified software ecosystem.
Compared with previous feature upgrades, the biggest change in this overhaul is that artificial intelligence becomes the core. GM hopes that with AI capable of autonomous execution, OnStar will no longer be merely a service platform used to call for help after a vehicle accident, but will become a digital assistant that can continuously understand user needs and proactively offer suggestions and assistance.
In recent years, GM has been advancing the intelligent transformation of OnStar. In 2021, the company extended the OnStar Guardian service, which features crash detection, emergency assistance and location sharing, to all users with compatible smartphones, so that even users who are not GM vehicle owners can use the related services. In 2022, GM began using Google Cloud's Dialogflow conversational AI technology to handle voice commands; in 2023 it further enhanced the system's capabilities so that it could answer common questions such as navigation and route planning. These measures all serve the company's long-term goal of building a $25 billion subscription business by 2030.
Although GM previously relied heavily on Google technology in the field of generative AI and had announced that Google Gemini would enter vehicle systems in 2026, the OnStar AI Assistant released this time is a product independently developed by the company. Its goal is to provide drivers and passengers with a more personalized and more interactive experience, and to integrate more life scenarios beyond daily travel.
Sterling Anderson, GM's chief product officer, said that OnStar is transforming from a traditional call center into a "connected intelligent platform." In the future, it will not only be able to understand and analyze vehicle status, but also provide users with predictive and proactive support, helping vehicle owners address potential problems in advance.
As part of the upgrade plan, the vehicle camera system will also be deeply integrated with OnStar. Users will in the future be able to view images outside the vehicle in real time through software, while also saving crash events and safety-related recordings. When the vehicle senses a possible abnormal situation, such as an aggressive horn honk or other potential risk event, the system can automatically activate the camera to record and upload the relevant video to the OnStar app.
In addition, users will be able to directly control in-vehicle functions such as air conditioning by voice, and consult the AI assistant about various vehicle functions and settings. Through the combination of the in-vehicle system, mobile app and AI capabilities, GM hopes to upgrade OnStar from a single rescue service brand into a comprehensive intelligent service platform covering vehicles, mobility and digital life.