CES: Auto and tech companies transform cars into proactive companions.

At CES, automakers and tech firms showed vehicles using AI to recognize occupants, monitor health and emotions, and adapt cabin settings. Experts at the show also raised questions about how much personal data those systems collect and how it is handled.

Automakers and technology companies at CES in Las Vegas presented AI systems that make car cabins more responsive to drivers and passengers. Demonstrations ranged from vehicles that recognize occupants and cue music to systems that monitor heart rate, emotions and whether a child has been left behind. Companies described in-cabin sensors and cameras that process data inside the vehicle, and suppliers emphasized that manufacturers decide how the vehicle reacts. The displays highlighted both potential safety features and concerns about personal data in cars. Key points: - Nvidia introduced a vehicle AI initiative called Alpamayo and described AI that helps cars make complex driving decisions, while company representatives gave examples of cabins that recognize occupants and personalise settings. - Bosch showed an AI vehicle extension intended to make the cabin a proactive companion that can adapt in real time to people inside the car. - Gentex demonstrated in-cabin sensors and cameras that can detect driver drowsiness, seating position, eating or phone use, and said video frames are processed in the vehicle and deleted after processing, with automakers determining how to respond. - Consumer Reports' Justin Brookman said the industry is still working to establish rules for what automakers and tech companies may do with driver data and warned privacy and security protections should not be ignored. - Speakers noted these systems can offer safety benefits even as they expand the scope of personal data collected in vehicles. Summary: The CES demonstrations underscored a trend toward more personalised, data-rich vehicle cabins and renewed discussion about privacy and data handling. Industry leaders and consumer advocates are debating storage practices and limits, and manufacturers are framing some processing as occurring inside the car. Undetermined at this time.