The Software-Defined Vehicle: How AI Sensors Turn Cars Into the World’s Most Demanding Edge Devices

The automobile is being redefined in software. As the industry shifts from dozens of fixed-function controllers to centralized, high-performance compute, the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is emerging as the most complex connected edge device most people will ever own, one that keeps getting safer and more capable long after it leaves the showroom. In this session, KMS Technology CTO Guy Merritt sits down with Dr. Dirk Schulte of Valeo to unpack what this transformation really means. The conversation traces the trend from robotaxis to mainstream passenger cars, then demystifies the autonomy levels everyone has heard about, Level 2, “2+,” Level 3 and beyond, including why Level 3 is such a legal and technical watershed, and how this same framework is now being applied to humanoid robots and embodied AI. From there, the discussion turns to the engine room of modern vehicle safety: AI-powered sensor fusion that blends camera, radar, LiDAR, and ultrasonic data into a single trustworthy view of the world, and the hard problem of validating probabilistic AI to deterministic safety standards. The pair closes inside the cabin, where AI is driving a new wave of monitoring, personalization, and comfort, and the data and privacy questions that come with it. For an IoT audience, the SDV is the edge-AI, connectivity, and security challenge in its most demanding form. This session connects those dots, and looks ahead to where the road leads next. Learn more about KMS Technology: https://kms-technology.com #KMSTechnology #IoTLiveSlam2026 #AgenticAI #EnterpriseAI #IndustrialAI #Manufacturing #SmartManufacturing #IoT #SupplyChain