GM's OnStar AI Assistant Debuts In The 2027 Cadillac Lyriq

The digital assistant can control various vehicle functions and answer specific questions through voice commands.

Photo by: Cadillac

By: Iulian Dnistran

Oct 21, at 2:00pm ET

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General Motors is launching an in-vehicle artificial intelligence-powered voice assistant.
The new OnStar AI Assistant will debut in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq through a software update, with more GM models to follow.
By using natural voice commands, drivers can control vehicle functions, plan charging stops, and ask about errors.

General Motors is introducing a new AI assistant in its vehicles, starting with the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq luxury electric SUV. The new OnStar AI Assistant will hit the Lyriq EV through an over-the-air software update in the coming months, with additional GM vehicles to follow. The 2027 GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado will be next, a GM spokesperson told InsideEVs.

The automaker said its new AI-enabled feature can answer complex questions and adjust various vehicle features without the driver having to take their eyes off the road. The voice assistant can be activated with the “Hey, OnStar” key phrase, followed by a command.

"We're evolving OnStar to become a true driving partner," GM CEO Mary Barra said at the automaker's GM Forward event in New York on Wednesday. "Coming soon, we'll offer a new layer of intelligence that lives in your dashboard and understands your vehicle. It's designed to learn your preferences and adapt to better support your drive."

The 2027 Cadillac Lyriq is the first model in GM's lineup to get the new OnStar AI Assistant. The feature will be introduced in the coming months through an over-the-air software update.

Photo by: Cadillac

For instance, if it’s too hot inside, the driver can say “It’s getting warm in here,” and the air conditioning system will lower the temperature. Additionally, the new OnStar AI Assistant can plan charging stops in EVs if the driver asks something like, “Do I have enough range to get there?” It can also explain what a specific error message or warning light means.

GM said the new native AI assistant combines real-time vehicle data, context, and connected services to deliver personalized answers. The system has access to vehicle data like tire pressure, charging status, and projected range, and can control features such as the dome lights, the electronic glove box, and the charge port, among others. Furthermore, it can explain specific features installed on the vehicle, making the user’s manual redundant.

An operator will be ready to take over when the AI assistant can’t offer a clear answer. GM said that when a question calls for human assistance, an OnStar Advisor will be called to handle the situation.

But that’s not all. As part of GM’s tech-forward repositioning, a new OnStar smartphone app will replace the current OnStar Guardian and Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicle brand apps starting next year.

The automaker said the new app will include an AI chat feature where drivers can ask about their vehicle. It'll also have a camera-surveillance feature akin to Tesla's Sentry mode, a first for GM. When a vehicle's theft alarm goes off, its surround cameras will record a video of the incident, which will be available to view in the OnStar app. When it comes to video recordings, GM said they have time limits and are encrypted, and that the company can’t access remote video files.

These changes bring GM closer to what tech-heavy companies like Tesla and Rivian are known for. Built-in dashcams and in-vehicle AI assistants can make modern cars feel like smartphones, but they can also make life a little easier, as long as they don’t cost an arm and a leg to activate.

General Motors said the OnStar AI Assistant will be part of its standard OnStar Basics subscription service, which is included with new vehicle purchases at no extra cost.

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Additional reporting by Tim Levin

Updated 2:19 pm ET with comments from General Motors CEO Mary Barra