Subvolts take GM's AI future: Gemini in cars, but no CarPlay. Listen for the strategy. Oct 22, 2025 - Business
- Learn how a major automaker is integrating AI and making strategic platform decisions, impacting future automotive technology.
- Everyday users
- Understand why your next car might have a Google AI assistant but lack Apple CarPlay, and what advanced driving features are coming.
This interview features the CEO of a major automaker discussing significant shifts in automotive AI and software strategy.
Why GM will give you Gemini — but not CarPlay
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From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
Nilay Patel interviews GM CEO Mary Barra and Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson on Decoder. They discuss GM's new Google Gemini AI assistant for cars and a 2028 hardware/software platform for the Escalade IQ with Level 3 autonomy. The conversation also covers GM's decision to drop Apple CarPlay on EVs and the company's broader strategy.
General Motors is putting Google's AI, Gemini, into new cars. They are also planning to remove Apple CarPlay from their electric vehicles. This episode explains why GM is making these changes and what it means for drivers.
This episode offers insight into General Motors' strategic direction, particularly its embrace of AI assistants and its controversial decision to move away from Apple CarPlay. It's for consumers interested in future car technology, business leaders evaluating automotive tech trends, and anyone tracking how major companies integrate AI. The discussion connects to frontier labs by showing how automakers are adopting AI, influencing the consumer tech landscape and potentially shaping the future of in-car experiences.
- HostNilay Patel
- GuestMary BarraCEO, General Motors
- GuestSterling AndersonChief Product Officer, General Motors
- Guests: Mary Barra, Sterling Anderson
- Show: Decoder with Nilay Patel
- Length: 78 minutes
- New AI Assistant: Google Gemini-powered AI assistant coming to new cars
- New Platform: Entirely new hardware and software platform coming to Escalade IQ in 2028
- Autonomy: True Level 3 autonomous driving coming in 2028
Today’s guests are General Motors CEO Mary Barra and new GM Chief Product Officer Sterling Anderson. There’s a lot of big news the company just announced, including a Google Gemini-powered AI assistant that's coming to new cars and an entirely new hardware and software platform coming to the Escalade IQ in 2028 alongside true Level 3 autonomous driving.
So I asked Mary about all of that and how she's navigating the current moment, and her company's relationship with the Trump administration. I also got into the details on GM’s platform with Sterling, including its decision to ditch Apple CarPlay on its EVs and what all this looks like in the future as AI voice assistants and more capable autonomy come into the mix.
Read the full transcript on The Verge.
Links:
- GM says hands-free, eyes-off driving is coming to Escalade IQ | The Verge
- GM takes a $1.6 billion hit on EVs | The Verge
- GM software boss on ditching CarPlay | Decoder
- Ford CEO on China, tariffs, and the quest for a $30,000 EV | Decoder
- The EV tax credit is gone — now the hard part begins | Decoder
- GM blocks dealership from installing CarPlay retrofit kits in EVs | The Verge
- Everybody hates GM’s decision to kill Apple CarPlay | The Verge
- GM hires ex-Tesla, Aurora exec as chief product officer | CNBC
- Cruise’s robotaxi service will shut down as GM pulls its funding | The Verge
- Newsom names GM’s Mary Barra as villain in fight with feds | Streetlight CA
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright.
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
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- Level 3 autonomous driving
- Sterling Anderson
- A driving system that can handle most driving tasks under specific conditions, allowing the driver to take their attention away from the road.
- Apple CarPlay
- Sterling Anderson
- A system that mirrors an iPhone's interface onto a car's dashboard screen, allowing access to apps like maps and music.
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Questions people ask
- What AI is coming to GM cars?
- GM will integrate a Google Gemini-powered AI assistant into new vehicles.
- Why is GM dropping Apple CarPlay?
- GM is ditching Apple CarPlay on its EVs as part of a new hardware and software platform strategy.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to The Verge.