This month Autotech Council meets to explore the impact Generative AI will have on the automotive industry. AI has many applications in automotive, from the obvious self-driving and ADAS applications, to smart cities and V2x. But this specific type of Generative AI, of the ChatGPT variety, has unique new applications. Join Autotech Council members, OEMs, automotive suppliers, mobility startups and VCs as we look at the Generative AI platforms, and discuss how they will affect the auto industry.
Silicon Valley, California, June 7, 2023/Meeting Recap/ AI has many applications in automotive, from the obvious self-driving and ADAS applications, to smart cities and V2x. But this specific type of Large Language Model, Generative AI, of the ChatGPT variety, has unique new applications. The Autotech Council has had numerous meetings through the years to look at AI in factory production and self driving, but today is not the time for that. This day’s content angle is exclusively focused on Generative AI’s uses in the industry.
Our meeting, hosted at leading AI silicon vendor Nvidia, brought together industry experts, startups, and delegates from Autotech Council member companies. The meeting encompassed networking sessions, demos, keynote speeches, panel discussions, company pitches, and a networking lunch. Here is a summary of the meeting's agenda:
Our host, Danny Shapiro, VP Automotive at NVIDIA, shared ideas around the work Nvidia is doing for automotive AI, and how the Nvidia silicon has a long history in AI, and even generative AI – the building we were in had design elements that were suggested in a CAD environment by generative AI (albeit not a real time AI, but an overnight batch process.) Shapiro introduced Matthew Cragun, Senior Manager of Product for Autonomous Vehicles at NVIDIA, who delivered a great presentation with some use cases for generational AI called Gen AI a “force multiplier” for your employees. One example gen AI use case was “imagining” (or “hallucinating” as he put it) tough driving challenges that they could then put in a simulator and ask self-driving software to handle it. In this case, the generational AI is almost working against the self-driving AI, challenging it and trying to throw it curveballs like a pitcher does a batter. The end result is safer self-driving.
A panel discussion followed, focusing on the opportunities and risks associated with Generative AI for carmakers. Waqas Malik, Business Development Manager at Valeo, and Andrew Grey, Partner at Morgan Lewis. Our panel focused on Do's and Don'ts in Generative AI. But the 2 key take-aways from this discussion were plain and clear:
Mr. Malik also shared some examples of how LLMs are being used at Valeo to speed the biz dev process, and respond to more RFPs, and with a higher level of quality and clarity than previously possible.
As ever, our Rapid Fire pitch sessions are the most exciting part of our meetings. Getting blasted with that firehose of entrepreneurial enthusiasm, in fast 5-minute doses, reminds us of why we came to Silicon Valley for our careers. Startups covered areas such as Voice Technology, Digital Assistant, Market Research, Procurement, Voice UI, HD Maps, and In-Cabin AI. Thanks to our Member Question panel with reps from Hyundai and Denso.
With thanks to all our speakers, our hosts, we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting. All the presentations remain available to members in our Library.