A new viral video is circulating on the web that pokes fun at the autonomous systems that seem to be increasingly embedded in modern vehicles. The video features a GMC Sierra pickup, and while it’s all clearly made for laughs, the underlying sentiment is a growing concern among consumers about how far automakers should go in regulating driver behavior.
The skit opens with a man and woman rushing towards a GMC Sierra as a tornado rapidly approaches. When things got urgent, the driver repeatedly pressed the Start/Stop button, but was interrupted by the truck’s onboard system, which refused to start the engine.
The reason? The system apparently detected “elevated heart rate, high stress levels, and panic indicators,” concluding that the driver was unfit to operate the vehicle.
“What?! There’s a tornado!” The driver shouted.
“Have you tried calming yourself down?” The truck’s onboard system asked.
Panic ensued when the driver and passengers asked the onboard system to start the truck. “Let’s try some breathing exercises,” continues the GMC Sierra. “Inhale, exhale…”
“I’m not breathing right now!” The driver shouted, “Whose brilliant idea was this?!”
“Your government…” replied the GMC Sierra.
While this AI overlord system is definitely a bit of hyperbole, the premise isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. Several major OEMs are currently developing a range of advanced driver monitoring technologies aimed at improving safety, including systems capable of tracking driver attention, fatigue and potential distractions. One notable example is GM’s recent patent application aimed at detecting intoxication based on a driver’s gait when approaching a vehicle. By analyzing movement patterns via external sensors, the system can theoretically prevent impaired individuals from starting the vehicle.
However, as seen in the viral video, there are growing concerns about the potential for overreach. False positives (such as mistaking stress in an emergency as an annoyance) are obviously one such concern, but privacy is another big issue, especially when systems start collecting and analyzing data.
Check out the viral skit for yourself here:
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