GM CEO Mary Barra talks economy, AI and more
General Motors CEO Mary Barra spoke with ABC News this week about the economy, AI and more as gas prices skyrocket nationwide amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Barra sat down with ABC News' chief business, technology, and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis to discuss the topics at the only Chevrolet Corvette factory in the world, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in a segment that aired on "Good Morning America" Friday morning.
Asked if General Motors has noticed any consumer hesitance on account of the economy or instances of consumers falling behind on their auto loans, Barra said, "We are really not seeing that as of yet. It's something that we watch carefully."
She added, "We are really proud of the fact that we have six models at General Motors that start under $30,000."
Barra said high gas prices alone don't always translate to slower sales for General Motors.
"It depends on what people think. So, it's not just where the price is today, it's more 'How long do they think it's going to persist?'" she said.
She continued, "When people need a new car, they need a new car ... I think [that's] one of the reasons that we haven't seen anything yet. And we're still seeing very strong demand, solid demand for our product."
Barra discussed the significance of affordability, calling it "an issue for every American" and saying General Motors wants consumers to "be able to afford what they need."
She added that affordability is an important issue, as it "speaks to the overall health of the economy."
To that end, she said, "We hope that, obviously, the conflict in Iran ends as quickly as possible."
Barra also spoke with Jarvis this week about the emergence of artificial intelligence, something Barra said is top of mind in every aspect of the business.
"I think sometimes people spend a lot of time figuring out what AI can replace, but they don't think about what's gonna come and what it's gonna enable in the new jobs," Barra said.
Asked if she felt artificial intelligence would ultimately create more jobs than it took away, Barra replied, "It's hard to predict right now what that balance is going to be, but I think there are whole new careers that are going to be coming that no one has thought of yet."
With the rapidly changing technology landscape, Barra said curiosity and a commitment to being a lifelong learner are key traits for job seekers to possess. Barra said she is especially passionate about math and science education, with General Motors pledging a $50 million commitment for STEAM education this year.
"I think it is vital for the country that we continue to make sure everyone is exposed to math and science … because technology touches almost everything we do these days, so I think it's very important for the future workforce," Barra said.
The company has also continued supporting its yearslong partnership with the Girl Scouts of America, to which the automobile company has given $9 million since 2017.
"We've had exposure to over a million Girl Scouts, giving them real life examples of math and science that I think will get their interest in something that means something to them," she said.
During this week's interview, "GMA" was able to accompany a group of scouts from the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana on a visit the Corvette facility to understand how a Corvette engine is built.
There, the Girl Scouts were able to observe the manufacturing process and ask Barra questions about careers in business and STEM fields, among other things.
When asked for career advice by one of the high school-aged Girl Scouts, Barra brought it back to math and science, saying, "I wasn't sure what I wanted do [as a young person], but studying math and science really gave me a strong foundation where I could really, when I developed interest, I could pursue it. And that's my big message … don't take yourself out of the running before you even start."
Barra became the first woman CEO of an American car company when she was named the chief executive of General Motors in 2013. Barra, a Michigan native, first joined the company as a college intern.
In addition to her role as GM CEO, Barra sits on the board of the Business Roundtable, the Detroit Economic Club, and and The Walt Disney Company, ABC's parent company.
