Our Stupid Smart Future

When my dad was learning to drive, automobiles were purely mechanical. Computer controlled fuel injection didn't exist. Either carburetors dumped fuel into the cylinders or, rarely, a mechanical fuel injection system might inject atomized fuel into the cylinders. When I was learning to drive, automobiles were still largely mechanical. Computer controlled fuel injection was the norm but infotainment systems, drive by wire systems, and Bluetooth equipped (and Bluetooth itself) audio systems were still nonexistent (maybe there were some niche or prototype drive by wire systems).

Today automobiles are largely electronic. Many of the old mechanical systems have been replaced by electronic systems. Modern automobiles have a plethora of electronic components on them including drive by wire systems, backup cameras, adaptive cruise control, and touch screens to control it all. This could be cause for celebration since it means our automobiles are more capable. But like so many other smart devices, making automobiles smarter has opened the door to making them stupid:

In a move that has left drivers both frustrated and bewildered, Stellantis has introduced full-screen pop-up ads on its infotainment systems. Specifically, Jeep owners have reported being bombarded with advertisements for Mopar’s extended warranty service. The kicker? These ads appear every time the vehicle comes to a stop.

In a just world, this story would come as a shock to consumers. But this isn't a just world. Stellantis is merely joining the ranks of technology companies pulling bait and switch maneuvers on their customers. They baited their customers into buying an automobile and then switched it to a rolling billboard. Google TV did this, Netflix did this, Amazon did this, and the list goes on. Cory Doctorow coined the phrase enshittification to describe this all too common trend and I think it's a fitting term.

The worst part about this trend is that consumers by and large just roll over and accept it. Most Netflix subscribers who were unceremoniously pushed from the "basic" tier to the ad-supported tier probably didn't cancel their subscriptions entirely. Likewise, most owners of these rolling billboards made by Jeep won't drive their vehicle to the nearest Stellantis office, light the rolling billboard on fire, and refuse to buy anything made by Stellantis ever again (or, I guess, sell their rolling billboard and buy something that isn't made by Stellantis if you want to appear more reasonable). So long as consumers roll over and accept enshittification, it will continue.

I'm not most consumers. I've been wary of smart devices from the start because I predicted (accurately it turns out) that companies would abuse their always on Internet connections into my home. A simple mandatory firmware updated pushed from a manufacture is the only difference between a smart TV and an always on microphone using the information is collects to display targeted ads in your living room. This is why I never bought smart devices. I've even been doubling down in the last few years by specifically buying the most basic devices I can.

A few recent examples are my newest watch, a Casio G-Shock GW-9500. It's not smart. It has no connectivity. The altimeter, compass, and barometer are also useful for long hikes, but it won't display messages from my phone or collect health data. I did look at a few smart watch options but they all either require or strongly push you towards an online account. They're all black boxes and the manufacturer can change their behavior at any time with a firmware update. Pass.

Another device that I recently purchased was a Garmin Foretrex 801. I like having a GPS unit to track my hikes and give me a breadcrumb trail to follow back if I managed to get lost (I haven't yet, but I like the backup plan if I do). I learned my lesson about relying on GPS applications on my phone when the biking application I was using went from a one time payment to a subscription model. During the transition, of which no prior notice was provided via the application, there was no effort put into grandfathering those of us who previous purchased the application. One day an updated locked a bunch of features I was using behind the subscription paywall. Since then, I've been using an open source GPS application, but a recent update broke it. The Foretrex appeals to me because it doesn't have any mandatory connectivity so I can choose when or if to install firmware updates. While it can be connected to the Garmin Explore application, doing so it's required (and I haven't done it) since GPX files can be uploaded to the device from any desktop via the USB connector.

Returning to the start of this post, none of my vehicles have infotainment systems. I prefer older vehicles because I don't need or want a touch screen, cellular connectivity, or another smart features in my vehicles. My newest vehicle, a 2014 Ram, has a touch screen, but it's the most basic of affairs and I can control the functionality of the vehicle via physical buttons that I can operate without looking at (unlike a touch screen, which has no tactile feedback so you have to take your eyes off of the road to operate). Stellantis can't push a firmware update to it because it doesn't have any cellular connectivity.

Smart devices baited us with promises of greater capabilities, convenience, and efficiency. More and more the bait is being switched out for greater advertising, surveillance, and mandatory upgrades via discontinuation of required online services or crippling firmware updates.