But we're not talking about GM forcing you to use their own system. We're talking about GM forcing you to use Android Automotive ("Google Built-in"). They are ditching their own system.

There's no fee for the service. There's no fee for the basic cell service, and my car came with 8 years of the higher tier service (that allows streaming), but you can tether the car to WiFi from a phone and be able to access those features.

GM DOES push OnStar still. In my car, there's an OnStar safety package thing (which is free for 3 years?), and you need to pay some sort of fee to use the built-in cell modem as a WiFi bridge after 1 year (IIRC). I believe that after 8 years, there's a fee for certain services (namely audio streaming).

I think pretty much every car company is now charging to use the cellular modem in some way or another. Typically the basic services are free, and "premium" services (real-time traffic and weather, and streaming services seem to be key). In the case of my car, GM charges to you enable the WiFi hotpost the same way my cell-service provider used to (but no longer does).

Google. We're talking about GM switching to Android Automotive, so GM only updates car-specific drivers. The OS and apps are all Android and updated by Google.

GM isn't moving to a proprietary infotainment system, though. CarPlay and Android Auto are third-party UIs designed to be hosted on top of a proprietary OS. GM is moving away from that to the Google Automotive platform -- same as Polestar, Volvo, Renault, Honda, Nissan, Ford, and Mitsubishi.

It may or may not be obsolete in a decade, but GM is explicitly moving from their own proprietary platform to the Google built-in platform. That's what people are complaining about. They are effectively turning over the infotainment to Google and dependent on that third-party's interest in maintaining and supporting it; Google might decide to sunset Maps, Google Assistant, or their automotive platform in that time.

People seem to think this is GM using something proprietary designed by them. It's not, though. They are moving to Google Automotive, which is effectively Google Auto, but instead of having a proprietary OS in the car have an app that hosts a UI exported from a third-party device, they are just running the Google Automotive version of Android on the car so no third-party device is necessary and they rely on Google to provide the infotainment platform.

The Pros: doesn't require a phone, more robust, can integrate directly with car hardware; the Cons: crappy Google Play support so far (no games or video streaming apps for when you are sitting in the car waiting for someone / recharging), limited options for customizing the UI.

I have a car with the new system. If you've ever used Android Auto, this is pretty much the same experience but more robust. The Google Maps navigation works very well. I installed Waze, and it had a hard time logging in at first. The UIs for many of the apps are clunky, but consistent with Android apps in general (mostly based on my experience with Samsung devices).

For 20 years, plus or minus, personal computers reversed that idea.

I gave all my Apple wealth away because wealth and power are not what I live for. I have a lot of fun and happiness. I funded a lot of important museums and arts groups in San Jose, the city of my birth, and they named a street after me for being good. I now speak publicly and have risen to the top. I have no idea how much I have but after speaking for 20 years it might be $10M plus a couple of homes. I never look for any type of tax dodge. I earn money from my labor and pay something like 55% combined tax on it. I am the happiest person ever. Life to me was never about accomplishment, but about Happiness, which is Smiles minus Frowns. I developed these philosophies when I was 18-20 years old and I never sold out.