The key facts
- The OnStar AI Assistant will debut in the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq in the coming months, then appear in other GM models
- A new OnStar app in 2027 will replace Guardian and the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC apps
- The assistant is an in-house GM development; previously the company used Google Dialogflow and planned Gemini from 2026
AI Assistant and a New App
General Motors will add a personal AI assistant to its OnStar service, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. As the company announced on Wednesday at the GM Forward event in New York, the OnStar AI Assistant will debut in the 2027 model year Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle in the coming months, and will then appear in other GM vehicles. In 2027, a new OnStar mobile app will also launch, syncing with the in-car software. It will replace the 2020 OnStar Guardian app and the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brand apps.
Reimagining OnStar
According to GM chief product officer Sterling Anderson, OnStar is transforming from a historically known call center into a 'connected intelligence platform' that interprets, understands and provides owners with proactive support. Unlike previous service updates, the new relaunch puts agentic AI at the center. The assistant is GM's own development, designed to give the driver and passengers an interactive, personalized experience.
System Capabilities
The car's cameras will be connected to the software: they will be able to stream live video and record accidents and safety incidents. Users will be able to set cameras to turn on automatically when an event approaches — for example, an aggressive horn honk — with the recording subsequently uploaded to the OnStar app. Voice control will be available for individual functions, including climate control, and users will be able to ask questions about specific vehicle features.
Context and History
GM has repeatedly updated OnStar, especially over the past five years, striving to keep up with technologically advanced competitors like Tesla. In 2021, the company opened the Guardian app with crash detection, emergency assistance and location sharing to all owners of compatible smartphones, even those who did not own a GM vehicle. In 2022, GM began using Google Cloud Dialogflow conversational AI, and in 2023 expanded it to answer typical queries about routes and navigation — all part of a plan to build a $25 billion subscription business by 2030. Last year, GM said Google Gemini would appear in vehicles in 2026. The announcement comes as the auto industry works to catch up with Chinese automakers, for whom technology is a central part of the car; to this end, GM changed its software development approach, implemented AI tools and designed a new electrical architecture with centralized computing.
Privacy Concerns
The announcement follows criticism and even fines against GM for sharing data with third parties. The company stated that customers will be able to decide for themselves what data is shared, that the recordings have time limits and that they are encrypted. According to GM, neither the company itself nor OnStar has access to Connected Camera recordings.
