According to Statista, there will be around 1.4 billion AR device users by the end of 2023. The exponential growth of AR-powered technologies is undeniable, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The rapid evolution and development of the AR space can be attributed to two major factors, including the widespread integration of AR into industrial use cases and the widespread acceptance of such initiatives.
One industry that is truly ripe for leveraging the power of AR is the automotive sector — particularly in line with improving the driver and passenger experiences. After all, AR can usher in an era of enhanced safety, entertainment, infotainment, and convenience.
For the purpose of this article, our focus will be on AI-powered AR and how it’s reshaping the automotive space.
Key Functionalities of AI-Powered AR in Vehicles
AI-powered AR paves the way for a gamut of key functionalities that could possibly revolutionize the automotive industry. As a matter of fact, this cutting-edge combination opens up exciting opportunities for industry executives. Other stakeholders like brand managers, sales teams, marketing teams, supporting ecosystems, drivers, and passengers can significantly benefit from the same.
AR inherently serves a lot of purposes in the automotive sector. For example, virtual product demonstrations to enable 3D mapping of roads and safety support is one of the applications of AR. The integration with AI only serves to fuel a more engaging and interactive automotive experience. Let’s understand the nitty-gritty of the same from the lens of driver and passenger experiences.
How AI-Powered AR Revolutionizes Driver and Passenger Experiences?
Improved Navigation and Real-Time Route Guidance
AI-powered AR offers improved navigation and real-time route guidance for drivers. By overlaying route information onto the real world through AR displays, drivers receive visual cues and directions in their line of sight, enhancing awareness and reducing distractions. Result? Safer and more efficient journeys on the road
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Enhanced Safety
There’s a lot of buzz around Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), which utilize sensors and cameras to enhance vehicle safety, and understandably so. Projections point at the ADAS industry roping in a market value of $58.59 billion by 2028, up from $27.29 billion in 2020.
With features like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, bad roads, and blind-spot detection, AI algorithms can analyze sensor data to make real-time decisions. This way, they can aid drivers in emergency situations. But what about AR? The ADAS-AR connection is rooted in providing the drivers with more intuitive guidance. This connection can also extend to other people on the road, like pedestrians and bicycles. AI-powered AR can also serve to amp up the security aspect of ADAS and better inform drivers.
Improved Self-Driving
Self-driving cars employ a sophisticated array of sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms to better interpret the environment, drive autonomous decisions, and navigate safely without entailing significant human intervention. Companies like Tesla, XPeng, and Mercedes have taken significant steps in autonomous driving thanks to the power of AI.
The application of AI-powered AR in autonomous vehicles is profound. Companies like Samsung have tested AR Maps and See-Through technology that can make the experience for drivers seamless.
Besides, AR transforms long-distance travel by:
- Overlaying real-time information on the windshield
- Offering turn-by-turn navigation
- Highlighting points of interest
- Displaying traffic updates
Immersive In-Car Entertainment and Infotainment Options
Immersive in-car entertainment systems provide passengers with engaging virtual experiences and personalized entertainment options like movies, music, and video games. This serves to make the journeys more enjoyable and entertaining.
We already know how AI-powered virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Assistant offer infotainment options for passengers. They enable hands-free access to phone calls, messages, live weather updates, live traffic status, and more using voice commands.
These capabilities can be complemented by Augmented Reality-powered concierge services, including:
- Recommendations for nearby restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions
- Sourcing tickets for concerts, movies, and events
- helping with reservations and navigation
Overall, the passenger view is embellished by dynamic POI overlays and AR-based entertainment options.
But There Are Some Challenges You Must Be Aware Of
Overcoming Health Risks in AI-Powered AR Adoption
Overcoming health risks in AI-powered Augmented Reality adoption requires addressing issues like motion sickness, eye strain, harmful radiation, and seizures. How? Through an emphasis on proper user comfort and safety measures. This entails vigilant monitoring of health conditions and adherence to health guidelines.
Ethical and Privacy Concerns in AR-Enhanced Vehicles
Ethical and privacy concerns arise in AR-enhanced vehicles due to data collection, surveillance, and potential misuse of personal information. So, implementing robust privacy policies and ethical guidelines is critical. Automotive companies must be at the forefront of protecting user data and ensuring responsible usage of AR technology in vehicles.
Potential Future Trends and Possibilities in AI-Powered AR for the Automotive Industry
No doubt, AI-powered Augmented Reality is poised to bring transformative changes. With autonomous driving, seamless infotainment, better personalization, etc., AI-powered AR will empower vehicles to cater to the unique needs and desires of their occupants.
Of course, as AI and AR technologies continue to advance, the potential for further development in this field will proliferate. However, the question is — how can the automotive sector ward off the challenges discussed above? This is precisely where an expert technology partner like Ascentt can help. Our extensive experience working with automotive manufacturers worldwide renders us viable to accommodate the AI-powered Augmented Reality revolution while ensuring that:
- Comfort and safety measures are well-entwined with the overall autonomous strategy
- Robust privacy policies and ethical guidelines are put in place to ensure data confidentiality and integrity
Connect with us today to relish the potential of fully autonomous vehicles and the associated personalized driving experiences.