We’re in the middle of a sort of strange revolution right now, one that I’m not sure I expected, but I can absolutely see happening around me. It’s an images-created-with-artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, and while I’m not really fond of that term (I don’t think what we’re seeing here is actually “intelligence,” artificial or not) I have to say I’m very excited by what’s happening, and have already enjoyed playing with these new, peculiar tools. Of course, the only good use for a new bit of computer technology is to see what sorts of car images it can make, and these new AI tools like DALL•E have been great for making cars that don’t exist. There’s an Instagram account out there now called Automotive.ai that I think is doing some of the most interesting work with these tools, and I want to show you what I mean, so, you know, prepare accordingly.
Now, I’m not exactly sure what tool or combination of AI tools the owner of this account is using, nor am I sure exactly what sort of post-processing or Photoshopping is going on, either. I’m not sure that especially matters, and the account owner seems reluctant to divulge those details, which I absolutely understand. I don’t really need to know the exact grade of wire used in an Alexander Calder sculpture or mobile to appreciate it, and I think the same goes here.
What I can tell is that Automotive.ai seems to specialize in mash-ups of sorts, taking two kinds of cars and having the AI meld them together to create something new, often something new and strange and wonderful. For example, look at this melding of Nissan Z cars and one of my personal favorite cars, the Nissan Pao:
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Holy crap, those are fantastic, right? There’s definite Z-car proportions and feel, but with the retro-inspired details of the Pao. It’s so good. I guess Automotive.ai liked the mainstream Nissan/Pike car mashups, too, because there’s more, like this combination of Nissans Figaro and Juke:
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Again, that works so much better than you’d think. The Pike Factory elements make these feel like Juke generations from the ’60s and ’70s, too.
Here’s another mashup that makes you realize there’s something you didn’t even know could exist, yet somehow you need more of it, desperately: BMW and American muscle cars, all whipped together into a frothy bit of wonderful. Look, just look:
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Those are incredible, right? How do those work so damn well, and how are the styles mixed with such balance? Some of those manage to hit just that right balance between BMW Neue Klasse and ’60s American Iron, and I’m not even sure I could describe it properly in words, and I freaking write for a living. Whatever the hell is going on in that unknowable black box inside some remote servers running these if-then chains of AI programs, it sure works well for whatever the hell this actually is.
Let’s look at a slightly different one, because this one isn’t so much a mashup as it is an imagined alternate history:
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These images celebrate an imagined 70-year history of the Smart Car, showing Smart Car development going back to the 1930s or 1940s, and incorporating both period synthetic photographs and illustrations. They’re all so damn plausible, and feel like so many microcars of the ’50s and ’60s and ’70s and ’80s, from Trojans to Isettas to Scootacars to Messerschmitts and on and on.
It’s clear the AI here is referencing many, many thousands of reference photos of cars of a given era to synthesize the right combination of details to make these work,
I’ve rarely felt like I could be replaced by a computer (my particular form of idiocy usually causes computing devices to wonder what this thing called “love” is before exploding) but, shit, this one does make me feel funny. I mean, these are the kinds of ridiculous things that I have drawn for years, or, recently, have been demanding talented people like The Bishop do here.
Even so, this is still just a tool, and it’s not like the AI can just conjure up the idea; there’s always a place for the artist, even for such automated tools like these. It’s still strange, though.
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Occasionally, we get a bit more of aa glimpse into the methods used; the above set of images are the result of this prompt:
I asked the AI to generate a “car designed by [designer’s name]” with little or no additional prompting. To varying degrees, the AI model has internalized the personal design languages of prominent and less-prominent designers.
1: Yukihiko Yaguchi
2: Ralph Gilles
3: Jack Telnack
4: Bill Mitchell
5: Virgil Exner
6: Chris Bangle
7: Jerry Hirschberg
8: Harley Earl
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Link doesn’t work for me. Any suggestions?
“Now, I’m not exactly sure what tool or combination of AI tools the owner of this account is using, nor am I sure exactly what sort of post-processing or Photoshopping is going on, either. I’m not sure that especially matters, and the account owner seems reluctant to divulge those details, which I absolutely understand.”
It matters a little bit, because these all seem way too well done, which means this is either the result of an amazing AI engine or- most likely, in my opinion – heavily edited images starting with an AI-generated design. And the designs are great, but if they’re heavily edited, the part of the instagram bio that says “brought to you by AI” isn’t entirely accurate.
And to be honest, I kinda hope this is not an actual super advanced Ai, because if it is, holy shit, this is getting out of hand.
Here’s a microcar I had the AI crap out, which has a striking resemblance to a design I’ve been working on:
Look at that. A no bullshit design that focuses on all out function. Low drag, with the looks coming into their own, even though they aren’t a major consideration. THAT is the what sports cars should be. It’s also how you get massive EV range on tiny battery packs, to keep costs, and more importantly, weight, down as low as possible.
Tired of the all-sizzle, no steak, overstyled, overweight, overpriced BS that is ubiquitous on today’s auto market. Give me slippery, light, simple, low-tech machines that don’t need much power to go fast, and then shove in them as much power as can fit.
I’m holding out for the cross between a Lincoln MkV and a Smart.
The weakness I noted with the AI is that it now has much more respect for practicality (no more doors ending in weird places) but still not hard points (the Edsels are much more differentiated from Fords than they would be in real life).
The lead image is going to send the prices of Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) computers through the roof. The inboard cassette drive and chicklet keyboard were both fabulous in their time. ????
I am totally there for both the Z-Pao and the Jugaro! What surprises me most is that there are several versions of each, and all of them look great and ready to build.
These are better than anything I’ve seen a human designer create in at least the last few years.
Agreed although I see real similarities with already existing cars.
The “Chris Bangle” fascinates me because it looks like something Bangle would never design, but maybe something someone who hates Bangle might reference as a way better design.
I like this kind of stuff. I also like it so much that I often do similar things on my Instagram, both with pen and paper and in PaintShopPro 7 (which was like an ancient version of photoshop)
Holy shit, you’re still using Paint Shop Pro? That’s awesome! Emulated? Or in an old machine (and if so, which machine/OS)?
CAD(Chinese automotive Design) is furiously taking notes.
I would love to own or see most of these in person.
Just like with art, I don’t think this will replace automotive design, rather it will be another tool in the designers chest to see what works/what doesn’t etc.
Will be interesting to see what other white collar jobs could be replaced by AI in the future. I really don’t hate any of these designs… I also don’t hate a lot of recent stuff on the street now, but its all just so meh, I just don’t even care…it might as well be designed by a machine. Weird that the AI generated stuff evokes more emotion.
Some of those “Forgotten Edsels” in the link at the end give off a strong Wagon Queen Family Truckster vibe…
The BMW/muscle mash ups look like what would have come out of an Australian BMW operation, had one existed.
Actually looks like someone took a British Mercury Capri and put a kidney grill on it.
yeah, my feeling also; I was hoping for a Bavarian ute to top this selection. It’s best uncanny valley I’ve seen!
Can’t do a proper muscle car without some kind of spoiler.
This is the main tool used by Chinese manufacturers to design their cars. Just like how many car makers are now using password generators to name their cars.
They’re starting to bring in western designers as well, like BYD’s head of design is former Audi chief. Soon they’ll make nice stuff like the Koreans while BMW makes bigger pigfaces.
I love that Z7 sooo much. So much. It’s like a DS and a Z20 Soarer had a love child.
I, for one, welcome our car design A.I. overlords. The 1960s BMW muscle car is perfect.
At long last the Commodore PET 2001 Series is getting a small part of the credit it deserves.
Okay, now I really want a Z Pao. Can the AI start building cars?