How to Compete With a Computer in Designing New Car Models

Well, it's already starting to happen folks are using artificial intelligence coupled with the latest CADCAM software to design our future vehicles. Although many of these new designs look quite futuristic, and intriguing, there is a problem with all of this. They are all starting to look like giant teardrops, and the body lines are looking more and more familiar regardless of which model you buy. Yes, they say that humans love to imitate, and imitation is the highest form of flattery, but what about when the computers are doing it too?

Now then, I'd like to talk about this if I might because I think it's apropos to discuss where human beings will fit in, in the future of designing our automobiles.

Today, when one automobile manufacturer tries to copy another manufacture's body style, there are often lawsuits and patent wars in the courtroom. This is because if you are BMW, Mercedes, or some other manufacture you want to hold those patents and designs as unique to your brand, as it will help you sell more cars, especially when you stumble upon a certain body style that people like, and it sells well, you want to get all you can and sell as many vehicles as possible, hopefully millions, if not 10s of millions.

Of course, if your competition is copying what you are making, this cuts into the market share, and the number of people who are interested in buying that design or style of car. One of the issues with computers designing the perfect automobile for efficiency and fuel mileage is that there are only a few body styles which are ultimately the most efficient. With the new Federal CAFE mileage standards manufacturers are forced to keep their cars ultra efficient, however in doing so they are limited in that types of body styles they can use.

As these auto manufacturers go out of their way to file patents on these designs, it limits the consumer's choices. The good thing about all this is that it opens the doors for high mileage hybrids and electric cars that might not be the most efficient, but are designed by a human for human taste in style. This gives the advantage to the human being designing the car rather than an artificial intelligent CAD CAM software program which has been programmed to design the most efficient car first, and then secondly, one which fits the preference of the auto buyer.

Indeed I'd like you to please consider this from a philosophical standpoint, as I believe this topic and this discussion might help you design the very best future cars.