GM Is Rebooting OnStar as Your Personal AI Assistant—and Killing Off Its Brand Apps

Artificial intelligence is much more than a buzzword in the automotive industry and is fundamentally changing how companies design, develop, and build cars. General Motors is the latest to dive headfirst into the AI future, promising to speed up new model launches because of it. AI will also make interacting with a GM product very different. In a bid to ensure they can keep up with new players from China, legacy manufacturers understand the importance of bringing new products to production quickly. It's typically taken GM products of the past four to five years to move from concept to production. By leaning on AI, virtualization, and combining its design, engineering, and manufacturing into a single "unified digital thread," the carmaker wants to slash that to about two years.

Thirty years ago, OnStar set out to answer a life-changing question: What if a vehicle could detect a collision and call for help when its occupants couldn’t? OnStar helped pioneer Automatic Crash Response technology. Today, it continues to shape the next generation of connected vehicle experiences, from hands-free driving with Super Cruise to in-vehicle AI assistance.

Gilbert Smith is an automotive journalist with over five years of specialized research and writing experience. Before joining CarBuzz in 2024, he produced in-depth buyer’s guides and feature articles for Vehicle History, focusing on practical insights and detailed automotive analysis. If you've been looking for a practical reason to buy a ridiculously powerful Dodge Durango, consider that it's one of the most capable SUVs on the market when it comes to towing, pulling 8,700 lbs in its wake. The GMC Hummer EV beats it with more than five tons of towing power, butthe electric Hummer starts at $97,200 for the base model, nearly twice what you'd spend on a $49,995 Durango R/T 392. When you look at the towing specs and the price, the Durango might just be the perfect synthesis of fun and practicality.

Joel was previously an editor at Autoblog for nearly a decade, covering cars from humble economy hatchbacks to high-end sports cars. He has extensive driving experience with plenty of track time, and even dabbles in motorcycling. Joel has shared his experiences in the car world not just in text, but also on podcasts and web videos.

For 2027, Subaru has given the Outback a new base model that starts at $34,540, lowering the entry price for the mid-size SUV by $1905. Several other trims also get price cuts, with the Touring now $1805 less than in 2026 and the Limited’s price dropping by $1625. The Outback also adds three new colors: Daybreak Blue Pearl, Snowfall White Silica, and Sand Dune Pearl, with that last one exclusive to the Wilderness model. The Subaru Outback entered its seventh generation for the 2026 model year, but the new, boxier model has failed to maintain the sales of its predecessor. Through the third quarter, the Outback has found 104,759 buyers, down 10 percent year over year. But Subaru may have a way to get more Outbacks into the hands of customers. The automaker today announced pricing for the 2027 Outback, and a new base model drops the entry point by $1905 versus 2026, with a starting price of $34,540. David Bush|Car and Driver2026 Subaru Outback Touring. The new Outback base model comes exclusively with the 180-hp 2.5-liter flat-four, hooked up to a continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.