Trending Now - 1980s Car Feature Relevant in Today's AI Landscape

WHO:

Chrysler, automakers, NBC

WHAT:

46% of respondents in an NBC poll conducted in 2026 did not hold a favorable opinion of artificial intelligence.

Chrysler's Electronic Voice Alert (EVA) was launched in 1983 and initially included 11 prerecorded messages, later expanding to 24 messages.

EVA provided alerts such as "a door is ajar" and "fasten your seatbelt."

WHERE:

The Electronic Voice Alert was featured in models like the New Yorker, LeBaron, and Laser.

WHEN:

Chrysler's Electronic Voice Alert was launched in 1983.

The NBC poll was conducted in 2026.

WHY:

The prevalence of AI is causing some to conclude that society is living in a dystopian nightmare.

Drivers found the EVA feature bothersome, leading Chrysler to include a button to shut it off.

HOW:

Chrysler's EVA communicated through a robotic voice over audio speakers to alert drivers about various car systems.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 23:20 UTC)

In a recent NBC poll conducted in 2026, 46% of respondents expressed unfavorable views on artificial intelligence, with some feeling that its rise has led society into a dystopian nightmare. Chrysler's Electronic Voice Alert, which debuted in 1983, initially featured 11 prerecorded messages to inform drivers about their vehicle's status, such as "a door is ajar" and "fasten your seatbelt," but was later expanded to 24 messages. While this robotic voice system was designed to enhance safety in models like the New Yorker and LeBaron, many drivers found it bothersome, prompting Chrysler to add a button that allows users to turn it off.