☕ Hit the road

Tech Brew tests GM's hands-free driving tech.

October 23, 2024 Presented By It's Wednesday. Tech Brew's Jordyn Grzelewski, who writes about EVs and AVs every day, got a chance to try out the tech she covers for a living, taking a Chevy Silverado EV RST for a (partially hands-free) spin on some Michigan highways. In today's edition: Tech Brew takes GM's hands-free highway driving tech on a road trip Automakers are offering more plug-in hybrids, but consumers aren't buying AI's influence remains unclear in the home stretch to election —Jordyn Grzelewski, Patrick Kulp, Annie Saunders FUTURE OF TRAVEL Hands off General Motors Setting aside promises of fully autonomous vehicles, many of today's vehicles are equipped with driver assistance technology aimed at making trips safer, less monotonous, and more enjoyable. These Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly common across all types of makes and models. Tech Brew recently had the opportunity to test out GM's ADAS, Super Cruise, after the automaker offered a chance to get behind the wheel of its 2024 Chevy Silverado EV RST for a few days. Super Cruise 101: GM introduced Super Cruise in 2017 and has expanded its availability over time. It has been available on 400,000 miles of major highways in the US and Canada, and GM now is in the process of expanding it to some 750,000 miles, including smaller highways. The system is enabled by an array of radars, cameras, GPS, and lidar map data. There also are internal cameras that use infrared lights to track whether the driver is paying attention. That's important, because Level 2 systems require constant supervision by the driver. The technology enables partial automation—the system can steer, accelerate, brake, and change lanes. But the driver must be prepared to take over at any time. Keep reading here.—JG Presented By Cisco Securing the grid The US grid is getting…old. Most of it was built in the '60s and '70s, so that technology is gearing up for retirement. Thankfully, Cisco is working to transform and secure the grid—a large, very important task. While traditional energy sources rely on centralized power plans, renewable sources are more distributed. Wind generators and solar panels are spread across wide, sometimes remote areas. That means networking, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI/machine learning can play a key role in keeping them secure and maximizing their potential. Using its long-standing relationships in the energy industry, Cisco is helping guide energy utilities through this critical juncture. Learn more. FUTURE OF TRAVEL Plug-in paradox Anadolu/Getty Images Automakers are increasingly offering plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as a best-of-both-worlds solution for the electric-curious who aren't quite ready to commit to a car that runs solely on battery power. But consumers don't appear to be sold on the technology. That's one of the takeaways from a new JD Power report that homes in on what the authors call the "plug-in hybrid paradox." Amid a slowdown in EV demand that has prompted automakers across the industry to pare back plans to go all-electric, many car companies are leaning into hybrids. This strategy also helps them meet tightening environmental regulations and aligns with new tailpipe emissions standards that go into effect later this decade. PHEVs are available across dozens of makes and models, from the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid to the Ford Escape to the Hyundai Tucson, and automakers like General Motors have said they plan to reintroduce them into their lineups. Conventional hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs, pair an internal combustion engine with a small battery and an electric motor. PHEVs rely more heavily on the electric power, and switch over to the engine when the battery is running low; as their name suggests, topping up the battery requires plugging them in. Keep reading here.—JG AI 13 days Mathisworks/Getty Images It's a matter of days before American voters go to the polls, and there's been some debate over whether the "AI election" has actually come to pass. Major presidential campaigns don't seem to be terribly interested in the technology as an electioneering tool, according to the New York Times, unlike races in a few other countries. But a swirl of online misinformation around an especially brutal hurricane season has showcased how damaging AI's ill effects can be on the media ecosystem. And companies and state agencies continue to warn about malicious interference from foreign actors. We've rounded up some of the recent headlines on this front below in the latest (and potentially last) occasional roundup of AI and election news. Hurricanes Helene and Milton spawned a storm of misinformation around weather-based conspiracy theories and relief-effort falsehoods, some of it aided by AI content. Sensationalized AI images and video of flood damage went viral on social platforms. OpenAI said in its latest report on election interference this month that it has disrupted more than 20 influence operations worldwide attempting to use its models so far this year, including some aimed at the United States. Keep reading here.—PK Together With HSBC More breakthroughs ahead. HSBC knows that you can't slow down the pace of innovation. That's why they're committed to a seamless and efficient onboarding for all clients. With an average of three days of onboarding time, HSBC Innovation Banking is getting founders started on the future faster. Find out more about their solutions that are tailored specifically to your business growth at every stage. BITS AND BYTES Stat: 94%. That's the proportion of American teenagers who want to learn media literacy in school, according to a new survey from the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit that surveyed more than 1,000 people between 13 and 18. (The survey also found that four-fifths of those surveyed "reported seeing posts that spread or promote conspiracy theories.") Quote: "If tech platforms are actively shaping our experiences, after all, maybe they should be held liable for creating experiences that damage our bodies, our children, our communities, and our democracy."—Julia Angwin, an investigative journalist, in a New York Times opinion piece on regulating social media platforms Read: A Trump win could unleash dangerous AI (Wired) Instead of another meeting: Try Loom. It's an async video communication tool that helps convey the nuance of a live conversation without hopping on an unnecessary call. Record yourself, your screen, or both.* *A message from our sponsor. JOBS When's the last time you landed a job by applying cold? We've partnered with CollabWORK, the first community-powered hiring platform, to bring you curated jobs from companies looking to connect with Tech Brew readers—apply below! Head of Product at Shelf (in person) Senior Product Manager, AI-as-a-Service at Tata Communications (hybrid) Senior Software Engineer at an undisclosed organization (hybrid) SHARE THE BREW Share Tech Brew with your coworkers, acquire free Brew swag, and then make new friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag. We're saying we'll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link. Your referral count: 0 Click to Share Or copy & paste your referral link to others: emergingtechbrew.com/r/?kid=b3968dba Written by Jordyn Grzelewski, Patrick Kulp, and Annie Saunders Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.   Guide → What is AI?   Guide → What is 5G? 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