Wil AI revolutionize the automotive industry? AI-cars and "AI-tomotive"?

December 29, 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionize the automotive industry. The automotive industry will gradually turn into the AI-tomotive industry. AI will influence and impact everything from design, production, and consumption or cars and motor vehicles in the upcoming decades. 

The "AI-tomotive" industry of the future will be characterized by AI bots assisting humans in the design of cars and motor vehicles; AI robots and bots handling the manufacturing and assembly of cars and motor vehicles; and AI technology completely integrated in the functionality and utility of cars and motor vehicles. Autonomous AI self-driving cars and trucks will just be the beginning. AI-powered cars will coordinate all aspects of transportation and logistics in the cities and suburbs of the future. AI-robocars will become a sort of master utility fulfilling not only transportation needs, but also other human needs such as physical shelter, information consulting, and companionship. When it comes to AI and the automotive industry, the best is yet to come. 

This article takes a look at the history of cars. From their invention in the late 1800s to the present in 2023, cars have proven to be one of the most successful and useful inventions in the history of humanity. The invention of the wheel was a turning point in human history. Connecting wheels to axles allowed humans to create incredibly useful and versatile carriages that could be pulled by other humans or by stronger animals like horses. 

From Horse Carriages to Cars

The chariot was the first recorded type of carriage. Experts believe that the chariot was invented by the Mesopotamians around 3000 BC. The chariot was a two-wheeled cart that was originally used to transport the royalty. It was then used by army commanders in military operations. The chariot was light and quick, and could deliver warriors to battle quickly. The Egyptians, Hittites, Aryans, Shang Dynasty Chinese, and Assyrians were among the first civilizations to use horse carriages. 

After almost 5,000 years using horse carriages, the scientific revolution had led humans to the development of the steam engine, and eventually to the internal combustion engine. The innovation of incorporating an internal combustion engine into a carriage led to the invention of modern cars. The new technology quickly displaced horses because the engines could deliver more horsepower more efficiently. Cars are one of the most successful and prolific inventions in human history. From zero cars 150 years ago, there are about 1.5 billion cars in the world in 2023. 

The success of the car industry has been quite remarkable. Cars are super convenient. In the human world, convenience always prevails. In the United States alone, the growth of the car industry has been amazing. 130 years ago, in 1893, the Duryea brothers, Charles and Frank, built the first gasoline-powered car in the United States, the "Duryea Motor Wagon" with a four-horsepower engine. In 1896, the Duryea brothers sold their first unit. From then on, as shown below, the number of cars in the US grew at an incredible pace.

• 1899: 2,500
• 1900: 8,000 
• 1910: 500,000 
• 1917: 5 million 
• 1919: 6.7 million 
• 1920: 7.5 million 
• 1929: 27 million (nearly one for every household)
• 1960: 61.6 million 
• 1970: 118 million 
• 1980: 121 million 
• 1996: 130 million 
• 2010: 254 million 
• 2020: 276 million 
• 2023: 280 million 

The car industry will continue growing in the United States and in the rest of the world. AI will help humans design and manufacture better cars. AI will help humans derive even more benefit and utility from their cars. AI-cars will revolutionize logistics and many other aspects of human life. AI-cars will not only handle and coordinate transportation logistics, but will also serve as assistants and companions to humans. With smarter and more versatile cars, vans, and mobile homes, it will not be surprising if many humans begin semi-nomadic lifestyles on the road. For millennia humans were nomadic hunter gatherers. Agriculture first, and industry later, settled humans down to cities and suburbs. Technology is liberating humans. AI-cars can be part of that liberation trend. 

History of Cars

As of 2023, there are approximately 1.5 billion cars in the world. This is almost one car for every 6 humans in the world. The number of cars will continue growing in the future. Let's take a quick look at how all this came to be in the first place.

Late 19th Century.

The development of the automobile began in the late 1800s, with notable figures like German engineers Karl Benz (1844 - 1929), Nikolaus Otto (1832 - 1891) and Gottlieb Daimler (1834 - 1900) making significant contributions to engine technology and vehicle design. 

In 1859, Belgian-French engineer Étienne Lenoir (1822 - 1900) developed an internal combustion engine that used a mixture of coal gas and air, and was ignited by a "jumping sparks" ignition system. Lenoir patented his engine in 1860. In 1864, Nicolaus Otto patented the first commercially successful gas engine. In 1876, Otto created the first modern internal combustion engine, also known as the Otto engine, which used a four-stroke cycle engine with in-cylinder compression. 

In 1886, Karl Benz invented the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine, known as the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first true automobile in human history. 

Early 20th Century. 

In the early 1900s, humans developed the automotive industry with the development of mass production techniques. In 1908, American entrepreneur Henry Ford (1863 -1947) introduced the Model T automobile. Ford's company applied assembly line production methods to the production of cars. That innovation lowered manufacturing costs, making cars more affordable for the general public.

1910s

Average car speed of 20 miles per hour (mph)

1920s-1930s.

Technological advancements in engine technology, materials, and design led to increased speed, reliability, and comfort in automobiles. Average speed 30 - 40 mph.

Post-World War II

The automotive industry expanded globally, with companies from Europe, Japan, and the United States producing cars for international markets.

1950s-1970s

Innovations in safety features, such as seat belts, airbags, and crash-resistant designs, became prominent. Car engines averaged 100 horsepower. Average speeds of 60-90 in the 1950s; 90-110 in the 1960s.

1980s-1990s

Advances in computerization and electronics led to the integration of technology in automobiles, including fuel injection, electronic systems, and onboard computers.

21st Century: 

Concerns about pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and fossil fuel dependence sparked interest in electric vehicles (EVs) and alternative fuel technologies. Companies like Tesla popularized electric cars, leading to increased interest and investment in EV technology.

Current Trends: 

AItomation and the upcoming AI-tomotive industry

AI-powered automation is the key trend shaping the future of the automotive industry, or the "AI-tomotive" industry as Creatix calls it. Ongoing developments in artificial intelligence, sensors, and connectivity are paving the way for autonomous and connected vehicles capable of self-driving and advanced communication systems.

Since its inception in the late 1800s, the automotive industry has undergone continuous growth and evolution, driven by technological breakthroughs, market demands, regulatory changes, and environmental considerations. Today, the automotive industry stands as a pivotal industry influencing transportation, mobility, and technological innovation worldwide.

As of 2023, the total value of the US car and auto manufacturing market is $104.1 billion. In 2022, the US automobile industry had an estimated 13.75 million car and light truck sales and accounts for 3% of the US GDP.  The global automotive market is valued at nearly $3 trillion. The global market is projected to grow almost 10% this year, and the US market by around 12%. 

In the coming decades there will be more and more cars worldwide. AI is already heavily embedded in the production side of the industry. Gradually AI will be integrated in the cars themselves and cars wil become an even more influential and powerfully convenient utility for humanity. 

The AI revolution is just beginning. Jump in. Don't miss out. 

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