Ford is developing an AI assistant that will first debut in the company’s smartphone app before expanding to its vehicles in 2027. The announcement was made at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show. Ford also teased a next-generation version of its BlueCruise advanced driver assistance system, which is both cheaper to produce and more capable, with a path to enable eyes-off driving by 2028.
This announcement marked a shift from past CES events, as it was one of the only major reveals from an automaker this year. Ford presented the news not in a flashy keynote, but during a speaker session titled “Great Minds,” which aimed to explore the relationship between technology and humanity.
The new digital assistant is hosted by Google Cloud and built using off-the-shelf large language models. It will have deep access to vehicle-specific information, allowing it to answer everything from high-level questions, like how much mulch a truck bed can hold, to granular, real-time queries about details such as oil life.
Ford will roll out the assistant in its newly revamped smartphone app in early 2026. A native integration directly into vehicles will follow in 2027, though the company has not specified which models will be prioritized.
While Ford did not detail the in-car experience, looking at other tech-forward automakers suggests the possibilities. Recently, Rivian showcased an assistant that handles texts, complex navigation, and climate controls. Tesla has integrated its Grok chatbot for tasks like generating spontaneous sightseeing tours. Ford has a full year to finalize its own in-car integration, which may differ from these examples.
The next-generation BlueCruise system teased is reportedly 30% cheaper to build than the current technology. It is scheduled to debut in 2027 on the first electric vehicle built on Ford’s new low-cost “Universal Electric Vehicle” platform, expected to be a mid-sized pickup.
Ford promises significant advancements with this new BlueCruise, including eyes-off driving in 2028. The company also claims the system will handle “point-to-point autonomy,” similar to features offered by Tesla and teased by Rivian. It is important to note that all these advanced systems still require the driver to be prepared to take control at any moment.