Qualcomm Exec Predicts Major Automobile Tech Advancements in the Next 5 Years

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Qualcomm Exec Predicts Major Automobile Tech Advancements in the Next 5 Years

Qualcomm’s executive vice president, Nakul Duggal, predicts significant advancements in automobile technology over the next five years. These developments aim to enhance the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within vehicles. Qualcomm, renowned for its mobile processors, is now shifting its focus to compete with major players like Nvidia and AMD in the AI chip sector.

Transformative Vision for Automotive Technology

Duggal emphasizes that AI will transform the automotive landscape, making robotics more ubiquitous than many anticipate. This perspective was shared during an interview at the Fortune Brainstorm AI event. He noted the company’s ongoing transformation of its culture and product offerings, citing a strategic pivot towards AI.

Innovative AI Integrations

Recently, Qualcomm announced partnerships to incorporate Google’s Gemini models for in-car AI assistants. The company has developed an array of driver-assistance technologies that include:

Lane-keeping assistance
Automated parking
Hands-free highway driving
Voice-activated in-car assistants

These features are currently utilized by major automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and General Motors. In September, Qualcomm introduced its first driver-assistance stack in collaboration with BMW. This system has now been deployed across 60 countries within three and a half years, according to Duggal.

Future Expansion and Adoption

Looking ahead, Duggal aims to expand into 100 countries by the end of next year. He referenced companies like Waymo and Tesla as benchmarks in the progression of autonomous and driver-assisted technologies, noting that it has taken about a decade for these innovations to be widely accepted in the market.

Despite ongoing safety apprehensions regarding autonomous driving, consumer interest remains high. A recent survey conducted by AutoPacific revealed that 43% of licensed drivers aged 18 and older, planning to purchase new vehicles within three years, desire hands-off semi-autonomous driving features. This marks a 20 percentage point increase from 2024.

Regulatory Structure and Safety Criteria

Duggal insists that the successful development of safe automotive technologies requires a robust framework of regulatory guidelines. He stressed that AI should be built on these foundational rules to ensure safety and reliability in everyday driving scenarios. “The next five years in automotive technology will accelerate even more rapidly,” he concluded.