GM has not published details on how the assistant's data handling will work in practice beyond its stated commitments. The company says customers will be able to see what each feature accesses and that it cannot access Connected Camera recordings. Anna Santos, GM's director of product management for voice and vehicle AI, has said the assistant will be backward-compatible with some earlier models, but the list of eligible vehicles is not yet public. GM has also not announced a launch date for its longer-term "Mission Mode" concept, which envisions unoccupied vehicles running errands.
The rollout moves OnStar from an emergency and navigation service toward an always-on assistant, and that shift raises data questions. The FTC's January 14, 2026, order settled allegations that GM and OnStar collected, used and sold precise geolocation and driving-behavior data, so the assistant's data practices will draw regulatory scrutiny. Commentators note that GM is phasing out Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in favor of its own software, and that a built-in assistant can help automakers sell more subscriptions and collect more customer data. Attorneys advising GM, dealers, fleet customers or consumers should watch for the vehicle-by-vehicle compatibility list, the feature-level data disclosures, and how the company's commitments square with the FTC order. The same data questions apply to OnStar Fleet Intelligence, which GM launched in September as a single-account platform combining vehicle data, connected services and AI analysis for commercial operators.