Core Insights - General Motors (GM) has introduced a new "eyes-off" self-driving feature for its Cadillac Escalade IQ, set to launch in 2028, allowing drivers to engage in other activities while the vehicle drives itself on highways [1][2][3] - CEO Mary Barra envisions a fully autonomous future where vehicles can perform tasks such as driving to work, running errands, and returning in time for family activities [2][3] - The technology relies on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) for environmental scanning, contrasting with Tesla's vision-only system [9] Company Developments - The "eyes-off" feature will initially be limited to highway driving, where autonomous technology can have the most significant impact, as commuters spend an average of five hours weekly on monotonous driving [3] - GM plans to integrate Google Gemini into its vehicles next year, allowing drivers to interact with AI for messaging and route planning [3] - The company is also developing collaborative robots (cobots) for assembly plants, designed to work alongside human workers [10] Financial Performance - GM's announcement follows better-than-expected earnings, with the company's stock rising over 25% since the beginning of the year [8] - Following the news of the new feature, GM's stock experienced a slight increase, while Tesla's stock fell by more than 1% [8][9]