My Car Is Becoming a Brick

"For most of its short life, my Tesla Model 3 has aged beautifully. Since I bought the car, in 2019, it has received a number of new features simply by updating its software. My navigation system no longer just directs me to EV chargers along my route-it also shows me, in real time, how many plugs are free. With the push of a button, I can activate "Car Wash Mode," and the Tesla will put itself in neutral and disable the windshield wipers."

"But Musk is already starting to leave my car behind. In July, Tesla rolled out a version of Musk's AI assistant, Grok, to its vehicles. Even as a chatbot skeptic, I could see the usefulness of asking my car for information without having to fumble with my phone. Alas, at present Grok runs only on Teslas made in the past few years, which have a more advanced processor to power their infotainment system. My sedan is simply too old."

"Cars used to be entirely mechanical objects. With hard work and expertise, basically any old vehicle could be restored and operated: On YouTube, you can watch a man drive a 1931 Alvis to McDonald's. But the car itself was stuck in time. If the automaker added a feature to the following year's model, you just didn't get it. Things have changed. My Model 3 has few dials or buttons; nearly every feature is routed through the giant central touch screen."

Many modern vehicles receive new capabilities via over-the-air software updates, enabling features such as live charger availability, Car Wash Mode, and novelty sounds. Some updates introduce AI assistants that require more powerful infotainment processors, so newer models can run them while older ones cannot. Automobiles have shifted from primarily mechanical systems to software-driven platforms with central touchscreens and frequent updates that fix bugs, tweak performance, and add functionality. This software dependence can advantage newer vehicles but also create a gap in capability and support for owners of older hardware.

Read at The Atlantic