Commentary: The Bane of AI

You know what grinds my gears – figuratively speaking?

Artificial Intelligence and its ability to screw with your mind on social media. 

If you live your life on social media – and you happen to be a car person – you have seen these AI-generated renderings of vehicles that will never go into production. These idiotic dreamscapes that certainly both entice dreams while reality states otherwise. 

C’mon, with tariffs in place in this country and the threats of reduction in vehicle imports and dropping of models left and right, what we really need is false hope. 

However, these AI-generated posts have a point. Although rooted in imaginary alterative universes and algorithms. 

The proliferation of the SUV has changed the automotive industry. It is now the norm worldwide – not just in the USA. Consumers have found that SUVs have qualities that make driving an easier chore than before. 

Yet, we need to be reminded of their drawbacks. Compared to more Earth-bound sedans, SUVs consume more fuel and are heavier. Yet, they offer more practicality and a more comfortable and agile cabin for more types of human beings. 

However, not everyone is on board with an SUV-driven automotive marketplace. There are some that miss the sedan. Models, such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata still do good business for their corporate minders. As does the Volkswagen Jetta, Kia K4, and Honda Civic. Even Stellantis felt the need to fulfill the hearts of Moparians by being bullish on the newest Dodge Charger for a return to internal combustion power to its lineup. 

However, non-SUVs are also cottoned by the fact that electrification is a reality in today’s marketplace. Especially battery-electric drivelines in various sedans from Volvo, Volkswagen, and the Chinese automakers. I know – we’ll never see any of those vehicles stateside. 

Those vehicles represent a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, the current round of trade tariffs pretty much shut these vehicles out of our market. Just when we thought Volvo would bring its ES90 EV sedan to join the EX90, the word is that they’re going to sell it elsewhere. 

There is a point, however. It dives deep into what these AI-generated images tease us as to what could’ve been. If you tell, say ChatGPT, to give you an idea on what a 2025 Ford Falcon might look like, you might get something close to the Ford Taurus currently sold in the Middle East. Actually, it is called the Mondeo in China. You get the idea…

On my social media feeds, I’ve found some outrageous AI renderings of vehicles long lost in the historic ether. Someone reimagined an AMC Gremlin for 2025. There had been several Dodge, Chrysler, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Mercury models. Talk about wanting to resurrect the dead…

What these social media posts are not doing is being realistic. The automotive industry is in a period of grave concern, thanks to trade wars, tariffs, and certain governments. Your account’s algorithm has bombarded your social media feeds on the fluid situation of these economic factors in the marketplace, while teasing you with AI-generated images of vehicles that will never go on sale. 

Can we just be real for a moment? Oh, and, "get off my lawn."

These non-AI-generated photos are by Randy Stern