TL;DR
Ford plans to roll out an AI-powered voice assistant later this year and aims to introduce a hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 driving capability in 2028 as part of its new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) program. The company says it will develop much of the supporting hardware and software in-house to lower costs and retain control, while relying on external large-language models and silicon suppliers.
What happened
At CES, Ford's top software executive announced an AI-driven voice assistant that the automaker expects to introduce to customers later this year. Looking further ahead, Ford confirmed a hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 autonomous driving feature is planned for 2028 and will be offered on vehicles built on its Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, which the company intends to launch in 2027. To bring these capabilities to market at lower cost, Ford said it will design many core electronic and computer modules internally, focusing on smaller, more efficient systems rather than creating its own large-language models or designing proprietary silicon. The moves come amid pressure on Ford to offer more affordable electric vehicles after recent EV initiatives underperformed financially, and after the company cancelled the F-150 Lightning as EV demand cooled.
Why it matters
- Bringing more development in-house could reduce unit costs and give Ford tighter control over software and hardware integration.
- A Level 3, hands-free system could change driver expectations about autonomy if it reaches the market as planned in 2028.
- Rolling out an AI voice assistant across Ford models may reshape in-car user interfaces and fleet software strategies.
- The announcements signal Ford shifting toward more affordable EV platforms after recent costly product bets.
Key facts
- Ford will introduce an AI-powered voice assistant to customers later this year (announced at CES).
- A hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 autonomous driving feature is planned for 2028.
- The Level 3 capability will be part of the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform scheduled to launch in 2027.
- Ford plans to develop many core electronic and computer modules in-house to make systems smaller and more efficient.
- The company is not building its own large-language models or designing its own silicon, according to the announcement.
- Doug Field, Ford’s chief officer for EVs and software, said in a blog post that in-house design helps make the tech more affordable.
- The moves follow pressure from disappointing results on prior EV efforts and the recent cancellation of the F-150 Lightning.
What to watch next
- Regulatory approvals and safety validations required for a hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 system: not confirmed in the source
- Which specific Ford models will receive the AI assistant and Level 3 driving features: not confirmed in the source
- Pricing and subscription details for the assistant and Level 3 capability as UEV vehicles reach the market: not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Level 3 autonomy: A classification of vehicle automation where the car can handle driving tasks and monitor the environment in certain conditions, but a human must be ready to intervene when requested.
- Large-language model (LLM): A type of machine learning model trained on large text datasets to generate and understand human-like language, often used in conversational AI.
- Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV): A vehicle platform designed to support multiple electric models and configurations; in this context it refers to Ford's planned 2027 platform for more affordable EVs.
- In-house development: The practice of designing and building hardware or software internally within a company rather than outsourcing to external suppliers.
Reader FAQ
When will Ford’s AI voice assistant arrive?
Ford said the assistant will roll out to customers later this year.
Is Ford building its own large-language models or chips?
No. The company said it will not create its own large-language models or design its own silicon, but will design its own electronic and computer modules.
When will Level 3, hands-free driving be available?
Ford plans to introduce a hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 driving feature in 2028 as part of its UEV program.
Which vehicles will get these features first?
not confirmed in the source
TRANSPORTATION AI NEWS Ford’s AI voice assistant is coming later this year, L3 driving in 2028 The automaker is bringing most of the work in house to reduce costs and…
Sources
- Ford’s AI voice assistant is coming later this year, L3 driving in 2028
- Ford to offer eyes-off driving tech with $30000 EV in 2028
- Ford to offer its first eyes-off driver-assistance system in 2028
- Ford's $30000 EV Truck Platform Will Get Eyes-Off Driving …
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