Playing the ACES—Smart Bet or Risky Hand?

“Playing the ACES—Smart Bet or Risky Hand?” frames autonomous, connected, electric, and shared (ACES) technologies as far more than an automotive disruption—they represent a cross-sector transformation in how value is created. Guy W. Bate argues that the technologies powering smart vehicles—AI, sensors, electrification, real-time data, and modular architectures—are becoming foundational across manufacturing, logistics, and industrial systems. Drawing on research from BCG, Deloitte, McKinsey, and others, the article shows that future profit pools in mobility will overwhelmingly come from ACES segments, while traditional automotive value erodes. For innovation leaders, the message is clear: ACES is not a niche trend but a signal of where platforms, ecosystems, and service-based business models are heading across industries.