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Frequently asked questions
The 2027 model-year Cadillac LYRIQ is scheduled to receive the OnStar AI Assistant through an over-the-air update in late 2026. The exact release date has not been announced.
It can handle requests such as changing the temperature, turning on the interior lights, opening the glovebox or charging port, checking tire pressure and charging status, and explaining certain vehicle functions. The first version supports English only.
No. The announced system detects specific triggers, saves the event, sends the recording to the OnStar app, and notifies the owner. The announcement does not promise continuous recording or coverage of every type of damage.
On October 21, 2026, General Motors announced an OnStar update: a voice assistant will be able to explain vehicle warnings, while Connected Cameras will send owners recordings of events near the vehicle. These features will roll out in stages: the assistant and the new mobile app have different launch schedules.
When the new features will arrive
In GM's October 21 announcement, the 2027 model-year Cadillac LYRIQ is named as the first vehicle to receive the OnStar AI Assistant. The assistant will be added through an over-the-air update. The timing is clarified on the official OnStar page: late 2026.
What changes | When | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
OnStar AI Voice Assistant | Late 2026 | First the 2027 model-year Cadillac LYRIQ, followed by other GM vehicles |
Unified OnStar app | 2027 | Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac owners; compatibility for specific vehicles still needs to be confirmed |
Connected Cameras with owner access to recordings | As part of the new app planned for 2027 | Supported vehicles; the announcement does not provide a complete list |
The designation “LYRIQ 2027” refers to the model year. That is why the assistant's arrival in late 2026 does not conflict with the vehicle's name. GM has not yet announced the exact update release date.
What you will be able to ask the car
The assistant is activated with the phrase “Hey OnStar” and is designed to handle conversational requests. GM lists tasks such as changing the temperature, turning on the interior lights, opening the glovebox or charging port, checking tire pressure, and checking charging status. The assistant will also be able to explain how certain vehicle functions work.
A MotorTrend report dated October 23, 2026, described a demonstration in the LYRIQ: the assistant found music from a description or a lyric fragment. The journalists noted a slight response delay, a useful detail for understanding how the system performs beyond a promotional video.
Explaining a warning light does not mean approving the drive
In its document on the assistant's capabilities and limitations, GM distinguishes between explaining functions and giving safety-related advice. The system should not answer whether it is safe to continue driving when a warning light is illuminated. The assistant's response does not replace a fault diagnosis.
There is also a limitation for Russian-speaking owners: the first version of speech recognition and request understanding supports English only. Automatic switching between languages is not available. Vehicle explanations are based on the manual for the relevant model, year, and region, rather than the equipment of a specific vehicle identified by VIN.
How the car will send parking videos
Connected Cameras uses the vehicle's onboard cameras to record events. GM describes the following scenario: the system detects a trigger, such as a sudden horn sound, saves what happened, sends the recording to the OnStar app, and notifies the owner.
The practical benefit is being able to see what happened near the vehicle before returning to the parking spot. However, the announcement does not support a promise that every type of damage will be recorded or that everything around the vehicle will be monitored around the clock.
What is new if the cameras can already record?
In a response to Digital Trends on October 22, 2026, GM clarified that local recording is already available on eligible vehicles. The implementation described by the company requires a USB drive, and clips are viewed on the vehicle's screen. The new part of Connected Cameras is remote access to recordings through the app. The presence of a rearview camera alone does not confirm compatibility with the service.
One app for several brands
The new OnStar app is intended to replace OnStar Guardian and the separate Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC apps. Alongside vehicle controls, GM plans family features such as sharing destinations, coordinating trips, and receiving related notifications.
For video recordings, the company says it will use encryption and limited storage periods. According to GM, it will not have access to Connected Cameras recordings. Users will be able to manage permissions for the cameras, microphone, location data, and AI features, as well as disable selected functions.
What to check before buying a vehicle with OnStar
So far, GM has published an implementation plan rather than a complete compatibility catalog. If you are choosing a new or used GM vehicle for these features, you need answers to four questions:
Does the specific vehicle support the required service, taking its model year and equipment into account?
Does the service work in the country where the vehicle will be used?
What subscription will be required, and how much will it cost after the trial period?
Which functions will remain available without a connection, and where will recordings be stored?
For the assistant, some requests are processed in the vehicle, while features that require a cloud-based language model are unavailable without a connection. The materials reviewed do not disclose final pricing for the announced set of new features. When choosing a vehicle, it is therefore more useful to verify which service is available for that specific vehicle than to rely only on the promise of a future update.
