Entertainment and advertising already pervade our homes and our smartphones. Before long, they'll be everywhere in our cars -- not just on the sound system and on little screens, but throughout the entire passenger compartment, even on the windows. Brian Krzanich, chief executive at computer chip maker Intel, on Wednesday announced a collaboration with Warner Bros. to create "immersive experiences" inside driverless cars. Speaking to auto industry insiders at Automobility LA -- the four-day preview event ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show -- Krzanich said the companies will build proof-of-concept entertainment and advertising platforms using trademarked fictional characters to demonstrate how people might occupy themselves while a robot does the driving. Someone who otherwise would have been driving might instead pretend to be Batman, Krzanich said, as an augmented reality system projected images on windows to make it seem like the car was zipping through Gotham City. In a press release, Intel said those same windows "will enable passengers to view advertising and other discovery experiences."

Nissan is banking on still having the force. After a successful tie-up between Nissan's Rogue sport utility vehicle and the "Star Wars" franchise a year ago, Nissan is back with a "Star Wars"-themed promotion across its 2018 product line at this year's L.A. Auto Show. The automaker plans to display modified, "Star Wars"-themed versions of not only the Rogue, but also the Rogue Sport compact SUV and the Altima and Maxima sedans, among others. There will be seven of the concept vehicles overall. They're tied to the upcoming movie, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," set for release Dec. 15.