General Motors' 'Eyes-Off' System Begs the Question: What Happens When Cars Go AI? General Motors' new self-driving system will let the driver speed down the highway without looking at the road. It's one of several features enabled by the adoption of machine intelligence in cars. A new self-driving system coming to Cadillac Escalades will handle the driving on approved highways, enabling the driver to do basically anything they want behind the wheel. General Motors is launching another salvo in the self-driving wars. In 2028, the automaker announced today, it will roll out what it's calling an "eyes-off" driving system on the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ.

What do automotive shoppers really want? A few years ago, those who kicked the tires on new vehicles might have prioritized fuel efficiency, comfort, or perhaps horsepower. "The race never ends to develop'must have' vehicle technologies," says Kristin Kolodge, executive director of driver interaction and human machine interface research at J.D. Power. "New technology continues to be a primary factor in the vehicle purchase decision." "However, it's critical for automakers to offer features that owners find intuitive and reliable," Kolodge adds.

If HBO's Entourage ever comes back on the air--and hopefully it won't--there will likely be a new character in the lineup along with the boys: a semi-sentient Cadillac Escalade. Because no vehicle could be better for wandering between parties than a glitzy-glamor seven-seat SUV that can handle the highways of Los Angeles all by itself. The 2021 Escalade, unveiled this week in Los Angeles (where else?), will carry the latest version of Super Cruise, Cadillac's much-lauded competitor to Tesla Autopilot. On the highway, the feature lets drivers take their hands off the wheel but uses an infrared camera to ensure they keep their eyes on the road. Super Cruise, which debuted in 2017 on the CT6 sedan, uses cameras and radars to monitor traffic and road conditions, follow turns, and adjust speed based on terrain.