4 Ways Watson Will Make Self-Driving Cars Less Terrifying

So Watson might then suggest, "'If you save your dry cleaning and do it tomorrow, you can avoid traffic," says Greenstein. Or along similar lines, "The weather is worse tomorrow, so I'll pick you up 10 minutes early." But for all of the natural language possibilities in this Local Motors project, a car's AI might soon be able to do a lot more than converse with you and check traffic. In fact, Greenstein tells us that IBM is currently working with major automobile manufacturers in North America, Europe, and Asia, developing technologies that are anywhere from one to four years out from market. "Some [work] is voice interface, hands-free driving, simpler user experience," Greenstein says. "There are also some car companies who are talking to us about how to make maintenance and diagnostics better, so if something happens, you don't just get a red light."