Ford Motor Company is making quiet but significant changes to its software strategy as it prepares to introduce an AI powered digital assistant and a more advanced and lower cost version of its BlueCruise driver assistance system.
The plans were shared during a smaller Great Minds session at CES 2026 and later reported by a tech publication. The AI assistant is expected to launch in Ford’s smartphone app in early 2026 and will be integrated into vehicles by 2027. It is built using off the shelf large language models and is hosted on Google Cloud.
The digital assistant will use vehicle specific data to respond to a wide range of queries. These include general questions as well as real time information such as oil life, load capacity, and overall vehicle status. The goal is to create a more intuitive and connected experience for drivers through software led features.
Alongside this development, Ford also previewed a next generation version of its BlueCruise system. The company said the updated system will be about 30 percent cheaper to manufacture while offering improved capabilities. This version of BlueCruise is expected to debut in 2027 on Ford’s first electric vehicle built on its low cost Universal Electric Vehicle platform. The vehicle is likely to be a mid sized pickup truck.
Looking further ahead, Ford shared its ambition to enable eyes off driving by 2028 and to move toward point to point autonomy. These plans are aimed at positioning BlueCruise closer to driver assistance systems offered by competitors such as Tesla and Rivian. Despite these advances, the company noted that drivers will still need to stay alert and be ready to take control when required.
The updates signal Ford’s intent to strengthen its software capabilities while balancing cost efficiency, safety, and innovation in its future vehicle lineup.
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