Generative AI is reshaping software development in the automotive and industrial sectors by enhancing productivity and fostering innovation. As in-vehicle software becomes a critical differentiator, companies are reevaluating their development models, creating dedicated software units, and reskilling their workforces. Gen AI accelerates this transformation by assisting in code generation, testing, and design, particularly for safety-critical systems. A McKinsey survey reveals significant investments in gen AI, with leading firms leveraging it to bridge the complexity of digital tools and improve customer experiences. Despite its potential, gen AI requires substantial organizational and cultural shifts to maximize its impact.
While gen AI offers unprecedented efficiency, it also introduces challenges like non-deterministic behavior and hallucinations, especially in safety-critical embedded systems. Companies need robust validation mechanisms, human oversight, and a transformative operating model to succeed. Capability-building programs are crucial for engineers and product managers, focusing on foundational skills like prompt engineering, risk management, and optimizing for embedded systems. Early pilots demonstrate up to 40 percent time savings in tasks including coding and testing, highlighting gen AI's role in driving productivity while maintaining safety and compliance standards.
