AI at GM: a catalyst for designers and engineers

April 17, 2026Newsletter Archives

AI is on everyone’s minds lately. And by “lately,” I mean the better part of this decade. This fascinating technology is full of promise, and every last headline wonders how AI will shape our future. 

But what about right now? At GM, AI is already improving workflows for our designers and engineers. Guided by a human touch, AI can speed up once-tedious processes like turning sketches into 3D models. Rather than replacing the human element, as many fear, these AI tools make room for even more creativity and engineering brilliance. 

Much of that engineering brilliance at GM sprouts from a single source: the minds of young people in Advanced Vehicle Competitions like EcoCar, where students debate ideas, miss sleep, and gain practical experience.  

“These programs have gone by different names over the years,” notes Tom Wickham in his article on EcoCar. “But the idea has remained the same: give students a real vehicle, real engineering challenges, and real stakes, and see what they build.” 

There’s a good chance, Tom says, that the GM vehicle you drive was engineered in part by an alum of programs like these. If you want to see the future of GM cars, it'll be shaped by minds like these 

In racing news, Robert Wickens eyes his second season racing a Corvette in IMSA’s GTD class. Wickens sustained a spinal injury in a terrifying INDYCAR crash in 2018 that left him with paraplegia. By 2022 he was back on track, racing in a car controlled entirely by his hands. Senior editor Chris Perkins caught up with Wickens as he eyes new goals for the coming season as a fresh father of twins, and a leader within the race team. 

Whether it’s AI’s next step, the next generation of engineering talent, or the next race season, it’s always tempting to imagine what's past the horizon. But never forget that, here and now, lives the opportunity to build the future you imagine. 

Keep dreaming, keep doing, 

–Kyle Kinard, Managing Editor, GM News