Introducing Ford AI Assistant

[ClevelandBeemer]

I'm not sure why people have to take Brian's involvement, or in this instance lack thereof, so personally. There are a multitude of reasons he may not be able to comment on specific points, annoying, sure.

Lack of specific knowledge
Communication embargo
Personal information data concerns
Corporate Liability concerns

And that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. It's a fine, fraught line to walk to both appease corporate and give enough information for the masses to be satiated. If you want instant answers, wait for the Brian, your new AI assistant.

I’m not sure why you’re white knightning for Brian……. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for his insight and presence in the forum, but I’m sure he’s quite capable of answering on his own without your intervention.

A few additional things:
1. Embargo’s are for 3rd parties, not employees of Ford.
2. Brian has made comments on some of these issues over the last few months.
3. Personal information data concerns? Nobody asked him to share client data. This is a non-issue.
4. Legal concerns are addressed as easily as Brian saying he can’t comment at this time.

The questions asked are pretty reasonable and some of which impact EVERY Lightning owner.

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[LiteNing]

What if Your Vehicle Actually Knew You?

What if the your vehicle just understood simple voice commands like “turn on/off seat heater” or “turn on/off defroster”? A man can dream…

 

[electricpig]

By Mike Aragon, president, integrated services at Ford Motor Company.

January 8, 2026

Meet the AI Assistant That Knows Your Vehicle Better Than You Do

In 1999, I was a first-year MBA student at Dartmouth. I recall a group of my classmates sitting in the back of the class. They weren’t taking notes; they were trading stocks on their laptops. Between classes, we downloaded music on Napster. That same year, Blogger launched, and suddenly you didn’t need to know how to code to have a voice on the internet.

What I remember most about that moment wasn’t the technology itself — it was the momentum shift. The internet stopped being a place you visited and became a capability you used. It almost instantaneously weaved itself into how we worked, how we consumed, and how we connected. I hadn’t felt that same shift, the same change in velocity, until now.

AI feels like that again. But this time, it’s not about connectivity. It’s about cognition. And just like the early days of the internet, we’re at the point where the question isn’t whether this will transform how we live. It’s whether we’ll build it to truly be useful.

The Challenge: AI Shouldn’t Feel Generic

We've all watched AI weave itself into our daily lives. It's in our pockets, steering our playlists, finishing our sentences, and quietly managing our calendars. But despite its constant presence, most of it still feels impersonal, like a tool that knows about people in general but doesn't really know you.

In the automotive world, the integration of AI has been even more fragmented. It is often limited to basic tasks inside the vehicle, and it is treated as a luxury reserved only for the most expensive vehicles. The industry standard has been to bolt on generic AI or one-size-fits-all solutions that don’t truly understand you or how you move through your day.

That is simply not the Ford way.


What if Your Vehicle Actually Knew You?

A truly thoughtful, integrated AI experience shouldn't be a luxury. It should be as expected and seamless as pulling up directions on your phone or streaming a song. So, we asked ourselves: What if we could build an assistant that truly understands your specific vehicle, anticipates your needs, and becomes an intelligent thread woven throughout your Ford experience?

Today at CES, we introduce the answer to that question: The Ford AI assistant.

This isn't just another LLM or a piece of software you talk to occasionally. We view it as an "intelligent thread" woven seamlessly through every aspect of your life with Ford. It is a deep, personalized intelligence that knows your specific vehicle, understands your unique needs, and anticipates your desires on every journey.

Imagine you’re at the lumber yard staring at a stack of firewood — cords, half-cords, bundles — ready to load up. Instead of guessing or using a tape measure, you snap a photo on your phone and ask: “How much of this will fit in my truck bed?”

Within seconds, the assistant analyzes the stack, estimates volume, and translates it into real terms — how many bundles, or what fraction of a cord — based on your Ford truck’s exact bed length and tie-down configuration. It’s a seamless experience that blends Ford-specific vehicle knowledge with the job in front of you, even if you’re nowhere near the truck.


App First: Intelligence for Everyone

We are not waiting for a distant future to deliver this. Starting in the first half of 2026, the Ford AI assistant will begin arriving in your Ford or Lincoln App and will reach up to 8 million customers. (And our commercial customers can expect a purpose-built AI tool designed specifically for them — more to come on that soon.)

We chose an "app first" approach because it allows us to reach millions of Ford customers faster. You shouldn't have to wait to buy a brand-new vehicle to experience the future of Ford intelligence. With an in-app launch, we can deliver advanced features and personalized assistance to the Ford you already own.


Seamless Integration: The Road Ahead

The app is just the beginning. The true magic happens when this intelligent thread extends from your pocket into your dashboard.

By 2027, the Ford AI assistant will be integrated into Ford and Lincoln vehicles. This won't just be mirroring your phone screen; it will be deep, thoughtful intelligence embedded directly into the driving experience.

Empowering Your Journey

Ultimately, this is about more than just technology. It’s about making your ownership experience effortless and giving you an assistant that understands your vehicle.

We are moving beyond the status quo of generic, fragmented tech to create a future where your vehicle is as smart, responsive, and personalized as the rest of your life. We can’t wait for you to meet your new assistant.

Mike Aragon is president, integrated services at Ford Motor Company.


MORE VIDEOS & PHOTOS:

Ford can shove every bit of this into small dark orifices where the sun rarely shines.

 

[Jim Lewis]

who writes the programs that run the pharmacy?

That's trying to move the goal posts... The comparison is in the execution of dispensing, not the planning for it.

If you want to do that, who does AI programming??? - human beings - so its shortcomings reflect up-to-now human understanding and design shortcomings. It's only the Model-T days of emulating human intelligence, which has its shortcomings, so it's not surprising that shortcomings show up in something that's only been a few decades in development, whereas it took humans thousands of years from pre-history to arrive at where we're at today - and given that some of us think there is no such thing as global warming - the final joke may be on humans, not underdeveloped AI.

 

[arod412]

i just want a battery conditioning status gauge on the app. i don't want all of this extra. i mean come on...how many AI assistants are there that are better?

 

[chriserx]

I’m not sure why you’re white knightning for Brian……. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for his insight and presence in the forum, but I’m sure he’s quite capable of answering on his own without your intervention.

A few additional things:
1. Embargo’s are for 3rd parties, not employees of Ford.
2. Brian has made comments on some of these issues over the last few months.
3. Personal information data concerns? Nobody asked him to share client data. This is a non-issue.
4. Legal concerns are addressed as easily as Brian saying he can’t comment at this time.

The questions asked are pretty reasonable and some of which impact EVERY Lightning owner.

Not what I intended, but maybe by extension it does seem that way. The main reason for my viewpoint is seeing far too much of this at my own work, CS in a front facing role can be truly soul draining in certain needlessly repetitive scenarios. It's perfectly reasonable to be frustrated at the situation and/or the company. Hate the messaging (or lack of it) not the messenger.

 

[bc1]

By Mike Aragon, president, integrated services at Ford Motor Company.

January 8, 2026

Meet the AI Assistant That Knows Your Vehicle Better Than You Do

What if Your Vehicle Actually Knew You?

A truly thoughtful, integrated AI experience shouldn't be a luxury. It should be as expected and seamless as pulling up directions on your phone or streaming a song. So, we asked ourselves: What if we could build an assistant that truly understands your specific vehicle, anticipates your needs, and becomes an intelligent thread woven throughout your Ford experience?

Today at CES, we introduce the answer to that question: The Ford AI assistant.

This isn't just another LLM or a piece of software you talk to occasionally. We view it as an "intelligent thread" woven seamlessly through every aspect of your life with Ford. It is a deep, personalized intelligence that knows your specific vehicle, understands your unique needs, and anticipates your desires on every journey.

Imagine you’re at the lumber yard staring at a stack of firewood — cords, half-cords, bundles — ready to load up. Instead of guessing or using a tape measure, you snap a photo on your phone and ask: “How much of this will fit in my truck bed?”

Within seconds, the assistant analyzes the stack, estimates volume, and translates it into real terms — how many bundles, or what fraction of a cord — based on your Ford truck’s exact bed length and tie-down configuration. It’s a seamless experience that blends Ford-specific vehicle knowledge with the job in front of you, even if you’re nowhere near the truck.

I would be very happy if I could take "Doug" to the lumberyard and load up all the mulch, lumber, concrete, and anything else I need such as a full truck load of firewood. Of course "Doug" would have to unload everything and stack it just as neatly as it was when bought. "Doug" would then be a welcome addition to my truck!!!

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Not what I intended, but maybe by extension it does seem that way. The main reason for my viewpoint is seeing far too much of this at my own work, CS in a front facing role can be truly soul draining in certain needlessly repetitive scenarios. It's perfectly reasonable to be frustrated at the situation and/or the company. Hate the messaging (or lack of it) not the messenger.

I hear you. I have 15 years of customer service with everyday customers and businesses. I also have 6 years of experience working with corporations, higher ed, as well as state and local governments, working through contract negotiations as well as legal and financial issues.

My point is I can certainly separate the company from the person. My questions and commentary aren’t personal attacks but a simple request for support.

Remember, this is a business relationship, and I’m asking for accountability. Don’t forget that Ford has made well over $6 billion on us, the Lightning customer. We’ve earned the right to ask the manufacturer to support their product.

 

[flabrent]

Give me a way to turn it off, or disable it, great!
Jam a version of "AI" on me and risk it becoming a version of Samsung's Bing or the 70's Bass-o-Matic ?
Good luck with that.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Brian @Ford Motor Company, is it possible to make some headway on key features missing in the app or on the truck?

-Route planning needs to return to the app. Did you know the trucks nav still has a section for trips planned in the app but the ability to do this was removed years ago from Ford Pass?

-Manual DCFC preconditioning is still missing from the in-car options. Because Ford doesn’t have route planning I don’t use Ford’s nav. As a result, my vehicle is not preconditioning between stops on road trips. This needs fixed as I’m certainly not alone here.

-FCSP reliability. I have a ticket open for this that Ford has not responded back to me on. I’m having repeated charging errors when temperatures drop below freezing meaning the truck isn’t able to do anything to keep the pack above freezing. Support said that using preferred charge and departure times can cause issues so I was forced to disable these incredibly useful features only to find out the problem still persists.

-Speaking of FCSP issues, what about those experiencing HIS issues after spending $10,000 for the system? Why is Ford not standing by its customers?

Ford engineered one hell of a truck, but only completed 95% of the project. These are all items that 4 model years in should have been solved.

Brian @Ford Motor Company it’s very disappointing seeing you interact with so many other comments but gloss over the pain points I brought up completely…..

I guess until I hear otherwise, I’m going to take that as affirmation that Ford has ZERO intent to address these long standing issues.

If my above assumption is true, why not open up the software so the community can support this platform?

Coming back to this one as there has been quite the discussion in the meantime. I had/have notes out to some folks to try and provide what I can to any of the above and it was the end of the working day. Apologies for the tardy response, and some of the non-answers I have in the meantime. I'll ALWAYS do my best to provide answers to what I can, when I can.

• Route planning - The team is aware. I don't have an answer for you at this time.
• Manual preconditioning - I would also personally love this feature. I don't have anything to share, but I have noted to the software team that it is one of the top requested features.
• FCSP - happy to help with your issue. Sounds like an odd problem, and I might be able to help. I'll message you. There is a software update coming soon to help with some of the bugs some folks are experiencing.
• HIS - I don't have information to share, but I know the team is working in the background to help customers case by case.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Coming back to this one as there has been quite the discussion in the meantime. I had/have notes out to some folks to try and provide what I can to any of the above and it was the end of the working day. Apologies for the tardy response, and some of the non-answers I have in the meantime. I'll ALWAYS do my best to provide answers to what I can, when I can.

• Route planning - The team is aware. I don't have an answer for you at this time.
• Manual preconditioning - I would also personally love this feature. I don't have anything to share, but I have noted to the software team that it is one of the top requested features.
• FCSP - happy to help with your issue. Sounds like an odd problem, and I might be able to help. I'll message you. There is a software update coming soon to help with some of the bugs some folks are experiencing.
• HIS - I don't have information to share, but I know the team is working in the background to help customers case by case.

Thanks Brian. It’s certainly possible my response was too hasty but these issues are important to me.

Just to let you know, the customer service team has been telling me this software update for the FCSP has been coming since June 2025. It makes me truly question if anything is actually happening.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Thanks Brian. It’s certainly possible my response was too hasty but these issues are important to me.

Just to let you know, the customer service team has been telling me this software update for the FCSP has been coming since June 2025. It makes me truly question if anything is actually happening.

I can confirm that it is happening and moving. The timing has been shifting and I know that's frustrating.

 

[WXman]

These automakers think that what people want is more and more tech, convenience, AI features, and luxuries. But sales data CLEARLY shows that what people really want is a vehicle that doesn't result in a monthly payment that rivals a home mortgage and doesn't break down.

If Ford would stop with this junk already and rip out half of this technology and just focus on building the highest quality trucks they can build at 25% lower MSRPs everybody would be ecstatic. The customer would be thrilled and Ford would be selling trucks at even higher numbers.

I went with the Flash trim because that's what was leasing the best last summer. But truth be told my next truck will likely be a base or low-end trim level ICE pickup because I'm sick of the privacy invasion and the way every single part is becoming expensive on the flashy trims. $2,800 for a F-150 tail light? This ridiculousness has to end.

 

[zakress]

Called out.

I do what I can, believe me. If I don't respond to something it's because I can't get an answer or I missed the question. I try to caveat that "if" I have information I can share, I will.

Sounds like the first task for Ford AI is to help follow-up with questions, instead of calculating my bags of mulch.

But really, it’s a great use case that’ll help accumulate trust in what is inherently an mistrusted resource.

 

[Daragh]

Ford and reliable/maintained software don’t co-exist at this point in time.

AI in Fords case is more accurately described as Actual Ineptitude.

I would be extremely hesitant to trust any software from Ford to be capable or reliable enough for any Intelligent decision making tasks based on current and past App and Truck software and their irregular and unpredictable updates etc. But I guess they can just cancel it if they fell like it’s not working.

To each their own and more power to those of you who are trusting enough to use it, if it truly ever materializes

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