Human or Technology?

As we reflect on the rapid transformations reshaping the automotive industry today, a fundamental question arises: Have modern cars truly become better, or have they simply become more complex? Every time we get into a new car, we find an additional system taking over tasks that were previously our responsibility. A system monitors the road, another corrects the trajectory, sensors read the car’s surroundings, and screens display endless streams of information. Even the car itself has become capable of making certain decisions and intervening before the driver even thinks to act. This evolution initially appears to be a clear victory for technology. Cars are now safer, better at reading their environment, more comfortable, and more connected. Yet amid all this progress, a more important question emerges: Are we designing cars based on what humans need, or based on what technology can now offer?

The philosophy of car design has changed radically. In the past, engineers focused on direct engine response, vehicle balance, steering precision, and road feel. The relationship between driver and car was direct, with every press of the pedal or movement of the steering wheel yielding a clear response. Today, software, sensors, and embedded systems have become integral to the car’s character. Technology is no longer just a set of aids; it has become a factor that helps determine how driving itself is performed. And here lies the paradox: the smarter the car becomes, the less clear the human’s role within it grows. As reliance on safety systems, driver assistance, and semi-autonomous driving increases, the driver’s scope for direct decision-making shrinks. The car alerts the driver, then suggests actions, and may even intervene on the driver’s behalf when it deems the situation warrants it.

These systems have delivered undeniable benefits, particularly in safety, comfort, and reducing human error. But does everything technology can do, the driver actually need? A larger screen does not necessarily mean a better experience, and more systems do not always equate to a more comfortable car. Sometimes, technology shifts from a means of simplifying driving to a new layer of decisions that the driver must understand and manage. Even the joy of driving itself is changing. In the past, part of the enjoyment came from the engine’s sound, the feel of the steering wheel, gear shifts, and the sensation of the road. Today, aspects of this connection are obscured by software and sensors. The car intervenes more, decides more, and strives to make the journey smoother. Some drivers want to arrive with minimal effort, while others want to feel every moment behind the wheel. Some view technology as an essential safeguard, while others feel that excessive intervention diminishes the pleasure of driving.

Therefore, the problem does not lie with technology itself, but in finding the right balance between technology and humans. The best car is not necessarily the one that does everything for its driver, nor is it the one that leaves the driver entirely alone in every situation. True value emerges when technology knows when to intervene and when to leave decisions to the human. Perhaps this is the real challenge facing the automotive industry in the coming years: not just making cars smarter, but ensuring that their intelligence is useful and understandable, and that humans remain at the center of the experience.

Yet all this progress comes at a cost. Every screen, sensor, smart system, and new technology that adds value to a car also adds to its price. With rising car prices, the question is no longer just about what a car can do, but what its owner can afford to pay to own it.

Here we move from the question of technology to one closer to the buyer’s reality: as cars become more expensive and more advanced, do we still buy a car, or do we commit to a long-term, installment-funded lifestyle? Meshal Yousef Al-Safar