Latest news with #Wagener
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Mercedes design chief predicts AI will replace car designers in 10 years
Listen to article Mercedes-Benz's Chief of Design, Gorden Wagener, has stated that artificial intelligence (AI) will likely replace human designers within the next decade, reshaping the automotive design landscape. While acknowledging that the technology is not yet at its full potential, Wagener highlighted the rapid advancements in AI and its increasing role in design processes at Mercedes-Benz. In an interview, Wagener shared that although AI-generated designs are still in their infancy, with a majority falling short of standards, a small percentage already meets high expectations. He stressed that AI's capabilities are improving daily, making it a crucial tool for designers in the future. 'We work with AI now,' Wagener explained. 'You get 99 percent of c**p with AI and sheer quantity. That's the biggest problem – sorting out the good stuff from the bad. But you get one percent of good stuff, and we keep learning.' Wagener went on to predict that in the next 10 years, the majority of design work in the automotive industry will be handled by AI, ultimately rendering human designers obsolete. 'AI will drastically change the way we design. I think in 10 years, maybe, most of design will be done by AI, and it will make designers obsolete,' he remarked. He also joked that AI would replace him at Mercedes-Benz, adding, 'My successor will be a machine, and it will be much cheaper than my salary.' Although Wagener envisions a future where AI dominates design, he is not alone in embracing the technology. Automakers like General Motors and Tesla are already incorporating AI into their design processes, with Tesla utilising AI to create structural components and optimise vehicle aesthetics. Mercedes-Benz has also used AI for design work in its luxury real estate developments, such as its Miami and Dubai projects. In Miami, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with JDS Development Group and architectural firm SHoP Architects for its first North American real estate venture, Mercedes-Benz Places. The 67-story tower blends the brand's design philosophy with luxury living, offering residences, a hotel, office spaces, and unique Mercedes-branded amenities. The tower's design, including elements like silver exteriors and curved balconies, is heavily inspired by Mercedes-Benz's automotive aesthetics. Despite the potential of AI, there are contrasting views within the industry. While Wagener envisions a future dominated by AI, other designers, like Maserati's Klaus Busse, remain cautious. Busse has stated that AI is a useful tool but is not a complete solution, as it merely mirrors existing designs rather than innovating for the future.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes Already Uses AI To Design Cars
Read the full story on The Auto Wire These days it seems like AI is everywhere, including designing future Mercedes cars. That's right, the storied German brand which invented the automobile is using artificial intelligence to design future models, shocking purists and intriguing those embracing cutting-edge what Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener disclosed in a recent ABC News interview. He was directly asked about his designers using AI and the man answered frankly, admitting it's already part of the process inside the company. However, Wagener was quicky to admit most of what artificial intelligence does is garbage, saying human designers have to sift through the garbage to find the '1% good stuff.' Still, with those kinds of low returns, the man admits the technology is 'getting better every day.' In other words, he sees tremendous room for growth as AI does more of the heavy lifting in the car design process. Wagener conjectures that in about a decade the technology might be doing the majority of the design work, eventually making designers 'obsolete.' He even jokes about his successor being cheaper because it will be a machine. To some, particularly of the rising generation that's wondering what jobs will be left, that's not a laughing matter. Wagener not only oversees designs for Mercedes-Benz models but also Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach. From the interview, we're to understand AI plays a role for all three lines. In the interview, Wagener said a big hurdle with electric cars is that consumers perceive them as a purely electronic device. Some automotive enthusiasts will call them appliances, something you use and when it breaks you toss it, then get a new one. According to Wagener, consumers still look at traditional internal combustion engine vehicles and see them as something which will last for a long time. Considering how much cars cost these days, can anyone blame shoppers for wanting to drop that kind of money on something which will stick around? Images via Mercedes-Benz Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes Exec Says Big Screens Aren't Luxurious but Won't Ditch Them
In an interview with , Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagener conceded that "screens are not luxury." Wagener argued that true luxury is communicated to customers through "craftsmanship and sophistication." Still, Mercedes won't ditch its Hyperscreen, and Wagener said the company is developing better software and more content to make the massive screens worth having. While most modern cars have a large touchscreen on the dashboard, along with a digital gauge cluster behind the steering wheel, Mercedes-Benz took the trend to new extremes a few years ago with the electric EQS sedan's Hyperscreen. The dash-spanning setup consists of three screens behind one continuous piece of glass that stretches the width of the car. Despite Mercedes's screen innovation, its chief design officer Gorden Wagener recently said in an interview with ABC News that "screens are not luxury." The main reason behind Wagener's opinion is that big screens aren't uncommon, especially for Mercedes's wealthy clientele. "You have a better—and bigger—TV at home, right?" he stated. Plus, new cars, especially in the premium segments, tend to feature at least one screen measuring 10 inches or more. Bigger and bigger displays aren't enough to differentiate Mercedes, especially as more cars start to feature dedicated screens for the front passenger, such as the Ferrari Purosangue, Ram 1500, and Jeep Grand Wagoneer. "So, we have to create luxury beyond the screen," Wagener explained. However, the design boss didn't get specific about how Mercedes aims to create that feeling of luxury, simply stating that what denotes a true luxury vehicle is "craftsmanship and sophistication." Despite Wagener's comments, Mercedes isn't about to ditch the gigantic displays. The S-class sedan, the company's flagship car, is set for a substantial refresh for the 2026 model year, which will likely see the EQS's Hyperscreen adorn the sedan's dashboard. Plus, the latest E-class only arrived two model years ago with the Superscreen, a slightly more modest take on digital overload. While the screens will stick around, Mercedes plans to do more to make the displays worth having. The concession about the use of bigger and flashier screens to denote a high-end vehicle came after ABC News asked about the customer response to units such as the Hyperscreen found in the EQS electric sedan. Wagener noted that the hardware is "very good"—Mercedes's displays look futuristic and feature crisp graphics—but he also said the software "hasn't been that good." The E-class's infotainment system packs an array of applications such as TikTok, Angry Birds, and the ability to take Zoom video calls, but Mercedes is cooking up even more special content for its oversized displays. "Because when you have a big screen, you want to have great content on it," Wagener told ABC News. "So we're working on content that is more specific and more entertaining." You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'Screens Are Not Luxury' Mercedes-Benz Says It Must Do More To Elevate Its Interiors
Mercedes-Benz uses some of the biggest in-car screens in the world in several of its vehicles, but its design boss is now saying that isn't where true luxury lies. Gordon Wagener, the chief design officer at Mercedes, says luxury shouldn't revolve around the size of a car's infotainment screen. In a wide-spanning interview with ABC News, Wagener admitted that "screens are not luxury" despite MB's emphasis on its 56-inch triple-display in cars like the EQS sedan and SUV. Here's what else he said: You have a better -- and bigger -- TV at home, right? And every car has a big screen. So we have to create luxury beyond the screen. That's why I talk about craftsmanship and sophistication. There's so much emphasis on making [Mercedes] vehicles better. He added that the company doesn't have its flagship MBUX Hyperscreen in all cars right now, just a few, saying that the hardware is good but the software definitely needs work because "when you have a big screen, you want to have great content on it." He continued, saying that the automaker is working on content that is more specific and entertaining for passengers than what is currently offered. If you're screen agnostic – which you probably are since you read Jalopnik – this will certainly come as a bit of good news. Mercedes knows its screens and implementation needs work, but don't get too excited just yet. I cannot imagine they're going anywhere, especially as consumers because more and more tech-savvy. I know you want your knobs and buttons, but that's just not what you're going to find in flagship Mercedes vehicles. Read more: SEMA Was Full Of Wild Concepts In 2002 In some other disappointing news for some (including myself), when asked about artificial intelligence, Wagener said the German automaker is trying to implement it when designing cars. However, it does sound like it's very early days for the process, and the company is being careful. Here's more from ABC News: We work with AI now. You get 99% of crap with AI and sheer quantity. That's the biggest problem -- sorting out the good stuff from the bad. But you get 1% good stuff and we keep learning. It's getting better every day. AI will drastically change the way we design. I think in 10 years maybe most of design will be done by AI and it will make designers obsolete. My successor will be a machine and will be much cheaper than my salary [laughs]. BOOOOOOOOOOOO Anyway, you all know my stance on screens. They're really not as bad or distracting as you Luddites make them out to be. Is 56 inches worth of screens a bit excessive? Maybe, but that's just the way it is. At least automakers like Mercedes-Benz are trying to figure out ways to make them a bit nicer. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes-Benz's design chief says vehicles are becoming 'smart homes' on wheels
Gorden Wagener is obsessed with speed. The veteran auto designer was standing next to a rendering of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Places towers in downtown Miami, carefully retracing the lines of the balconies that swirled around the altitudinous structure. "You can see the speed ... it's like an automobile fender," Wagener, the chief design officer for Mercedes-Benz, said. "The flow of the lines go around the building ... accelerates it. Geometry is timeless." As the German automaker expands its product portfolio to luxury real estate, Wagener's resume grows too: From cars and SUVs to go-fast boats, the prodigious designer is now in charge of imbuing the brand's design "language" into living spaces for hundreds of residents. It's a natural evolution of the brand, Wagener said, adding that Mercedes is building an "ecosystem" for customers. MORE: Meet your new virtual assistant: The AI in your car Its not alone: competitors Porsche, Bentley and Aston Martin have also partnered with developers to build branded residential complexes in the Miami area, a gamble automakers are willing to take to attract new customers. Wagener recently spoke to ABC News about the Miami project, how vehicles are becoming "smart homes" and why his successor may be a robot. The interview below has been edited for clarity. Q: You're overseeing the design for the company's next big undertaking -- Mercedes-Benz Places, with locations in Dubai and Miami. Talk about the automotive nods in the design for the Miami location, which the company unveiled last month. A: Dubai was very automotive, very full of speed. The Miami building has speed too but in a different way. You see the speed in the balconies, going around and around, it's kind of endless. The movement doesn't stop. The building is also silver, so it's very Mercedes. The balconies are like an automobile fender. Mercedes-Benz Places is elevating our brand, our design. How can we infuse our style into the building? We're aiming for an ecosystem -- the car and the home. Q: Would this concept work in Europe? Would there be the same amount of interest in a Mercedes-Benz-branded building in Germany? A: It's easier to do this in the U.S. or Middle East or Asia. Stuff like that in Europe is very difficult. You have regulations, you need investors. It would be very hard to do this in Europe. Q: I have to ask you a question about autonomous driving. The company is encouraging owners to interact more with their vehicles using voice assistants. Will we ever see a Mercedes without a gear shifter or a steering wheel? A: Probably at one point but I don't see it in the near future. We will always have a steering wheel ... at least in the foreseeable future. With increasing autonomy, the car becomes more of a living space. The car of the future is not a smartphone on wheels, it's going to be a "smart home" on wheels. Autonomous driving is so expensive and so hard to make it a business, it's such an effort from the technological side. And it's still like science fiction. Q: Customization has become a booming business for automakers. Is there anything Mercedes-Benz won't do for a customer? Any outrageous requests in terms of personalization? A: Manufaktur [the company's new personalization program] is a great opportunity. As you said, customization is crucial to luxury and many customers simply want a unique piece. It's a growing business and that's why we invested in Manufaktur. I haven't seen any tasteless stuff [laughs]. We always try to keep an eye on it so it's tasteful. Q: Are customers trying to meet with you to go over designs? A: I have no time for this [laughs]. Q: I want to ask you about those giant curved screens in models like the EQS. They're becoming a defining stylistic choice for the brand. How have customers responded to that? A: We don't have the hyperscreen in all the cars right now, just in a few. From the hardware side it's very good. From the software side it hasn't been that good. Because when you have a big screen, you want to have great content on it. So we're working on content that is more specific and more entertaining. Screens are not luxury. You have a better -- and bigger -- TV at home, right? And every car has a big screen. So we have to create luxury beyond the screen. That's why I talk about craftsmanship and sophistication. There's so much emphasis on making [Mercedes] vehicles better. Q: Some people have been critical of the brand's electric vehicles, referring to the style as bulbous and jelly bean-like. What's your response to that? And will future Mercedes-Benz EVs resemble the brand's internal combustion vehicles, such as the electric G580? A: The EQS sedan design is purposeful and very progressive -- probably like 10 years into the future. It was not designed to be an S-Class or a chauffer car. We have an S-Class and we wanted to do something different. So it's a completely different type of car actually. I think the shape is super progressive and very aerodynamic, which is important for an EV but also we took that aero look and made it futuristic. Does a normal Mercedes S-Class customer like it? Probably not. That person wants something more conventional. We wanted to target other customers [with the EQS]. One problem with EVs is customer perception. The customer sees it like an electronic device. Combustion cars are still being perceived like a Chrono watch -- much more long-lasting. Q: How important is AI for your designers? A: We work with AI now. You get 99% of crap with AI and sheer quantity. That's the biggest problem -- sorting out the good stuff from the bad. But you get 1% good stuff and we keep learning. It's getting better every day. AI will drastically change the way we design. I think in 10 years maybe most of design will be done by AI and it will make designers obsolete. My successor will be a machine and will be much cheaper than my salary [laughs]. Q: You've designed sedans, SUVs, sports cars, cigar boats, accessories and now buildings. What's your next challenge? A: Good question. I have no idea. I've designed pretty much everything. Mercedes-Benz's design chief says vehicles are becoming 'smart homes' on wheels originally appeared on
