GM’s Next Leap: Hands Off, Eyes Off
At GM’s recent “Forward” tech event in New York, the company unveiled its boldest leap yet: true eyes-off driving is coming in 2028, debuting with the Cadillac Escalade IQ. Unlike today’s driver-assist features that require constant attention, this next-gen system will allow drivers to fully disengage on pre-mapped highways.
Passengers can relax, read, or even respond to messages while the vehicle handles everything — steering, speed, and awareness.
Built on Super Cruise Experience
This isn’t starting from scratch. The new technology builds on Super Cruise, GM’s current hands-free system launched in 2017. Super Cruise has expanded to 23 models and accumulated over 700 million miles of hands-free driving without a single crash attributed to the system.
GM is also applying knowledge from Cruise, its now-discontinued robotaxi unit, which completed over five million fully autonomous miles in real-world conditions. These two systems form the backbone of GM’s approach to safe, scalable autonomy.
The Escalade IQ will use a mix of lidar, radar, and cameras, combining inputs using sensor fusion for a detailed, real-time view of surroundings. A turquoise light strip on the dashboard will signal when it’s safe for occupants to disengage completely.
Centralized Supercomputer Under the Hood
To run this advanced autonomy, GM is launching a new centralized computing architecture in the 2028 Escalade. It consolidates dozens of control modules into one ultra-powerful core, linked to the rest of the car through high-speed Ethernet.
This allows seamless communication across systems—brakes, powertrain, safety, and infotainment—with 35x more AI power and 1,000x bandwidth compared to previous platforms. It also supports more frequent and robust over-the-air updates.
Smarter AI Comes Early
While full autonomy launches in 2028, 2026 GM models will begin featuring Google Gemini-powered AI. This system lets drivers use natural language to get directions, find nearby chargers, or draft messages.
Eventually, GM plans to introduce its own custom AI, integrated with OnStar, capable of offering personalized trip planning, maintenance alerts, and vehicle feature support based on driver habits.
Driving Into the Future
The 2028 Escalade IQ signals GM’s shift from software-assisted to software-defined vehicles. It’s more than just autonomous — it’s the start of cars that think, learn, and evolve over time.
