General Motors dabbles in artificial intelligence to improve quality and catch up with software

AI runs simulations on software, monitors factory equipment and inspects vehicle components, solving problems before they arise

General Motors has integrated artificial intelligence tools into production to improve quality control and assist with factory equipment inspections while ensuring vehicle software is glitch-free.

The company’s centralized testing and validation process claims to ensure the software works properly when new models are rolled out, eliminating potential glitches in the code that can cause costly delays.

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GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, has 300 test beds where new infotainment systems are simulated. Automotive News reports that the workstations are controlled by eight engineers, with artificial intelligence software ensuring they run around the clock. GM officials claim the automated tool is finding 10 times as many problems as before.

In addition to AI tools that inspect software, GM uses cameras, sensors and analytics to monitor manufacturing equipment. The system collects 165 million images per day and is able to predict failures before they disrupt vehicle production, effectively increasing facility uptime.

In addition, a tool called Spark Eyes can inspect the quality of welds in the body shop, while other camera-based systems can evaluate parts and look for inconsistencies before they are installed on the vehicle.

AI can also improve productivity by testing the ergonomics of different configurations and assisting in choosing the right layout. Abdul Bazzi, vice president of software and service quality, said unoptimized assembly processes often lead to quality issues.

During GM’s Investor Day, Dave Richardson, senior vice president of software and services engineering, said: “Artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the world in ways we can’t fully imagine now. But at GM, It’s already impacting the way we build vehicles through our fast, superior approach to testing, certification and action.”

JP Clausen is executive vice president of global manufacturing and sustainability. He has previously worked at Google, Tesla and Lego and joined General Motors in April 2024. Clausen believes we’ve “only scratched the surface of the potential of artificial intelligence,” adding that the new system makes assembly operations more competitive.