Rental Car Companies Are Using AI to Charge Drivers for Damages


July 7, 2025

Here is another thing to worry about: Renters beware

The rental car industry is adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to inspect vehicles and charge customers for damages, adding a new layer of concern for renters already grappling with a complex process. While AI promises precision and efficiency, it’s also leading to unexpected fees for minor or pre-existing damage, leaving customers frustrated and financially strained.


The Rise of AI in Vehicle Inspections

Manual inspections, once the standard for rental car companies, were often inconsistent and prone to human error. Now, industry leaders like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise are turning to AI-powered systems to streamline operations.


Hertz, for example, has partnered with UVeye to deploy AI-driven scanners at select U.S. airport locations, with plans to expand to 100 sites by the end of 2025, according to a reports of their new partnership.


Partnerships with Companies like UVeye coming to multiple rental companies


Avis and Enterprise  are also testing similar technologies to reduce disputes and speed up vehicle turnarounds. While these systems are promoted as enhancing transparency, they’re raising concerns among renters who face hefty bills for minor or pre-existing damage that might have been overlooked in the past.


How AI Damage Detection Works at Hertz Rental Car

Inspection systems integrate cameras, sensors, and advanced algorithms to examine a vehicle’s condition. When you return a rental car, it may pass through a scanning station that captures detailed images of the exterior.


The technology’s precision is both its advantage and its drawback.


Customer Complaints and Hidden Costs so Far


The move to AI inspections has sparked widespread customer dissatisfaction, with renters shocked by unexpected charges. Posts on X and newspaper articles highlight cases where customers faced bills of $500 or more for minor scratches or dents they didn’t cause. One Hertz customer was charged $500 for a small dent they claimed was pre-existing, with no clear path to dispute the fee.


How to Protect Yourself as a Renter

To avoid being blindsided by AI-driven charges, renters must be proactive. Here are essential steps to safeguard your wallet:

  1. Document Everything:
  2. Understand the Rental Agreement:
  3. Conduct Your Own Inspection:
  4. Act Fast on Disputes:
  5. Consider Insurance:


The Road Ahead Rental Cars and Artificial Intelligence

As AI technology advances, its use in the rental car industry will likely grow. The current implementation risks alienating customers, but companies could build trust by providing real-time damage reports at the point of return, allowing renters to verify findings immediately. Independent oversight of AI systems could also ensure they’re programmed fairly, not to maximize profits at customers’ expense.



Objective Opinion: Renters, Stay Alert

Rental car companies are increasingly using AI to detect vehicle damage, but this high-tech approach is catching renters off guard with unexpected fees.


GitHub Universe October 28th and 29th San Fransico
By Jack Wang October 23, 2025
Launched in 2018, GitHub Universe has expanded from 1,200 attendees in its inaugural year to 3,500 in 2024, reflecting a 192% increase over six years. The 2024 edition featured 150 speakers and 100 sessions, generating 500,000 social media impressions via #GitHubUniverse. For 2025, projections indicate 3,700 in-person attendees and 50+ exhibitors, up 6% from last year, according to Vendelux analytics. 2025 Keynote Spotlight: Thomas Dohmke's Opening Address GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke headlines the October 28 opening keynote, focusing on the platform's journey toward empowering 1 billion developers worldwide. Dohmke, appointed in 2022, oversees a user base of 100 million developers as of Q2 2025, a 20% year-over-year growth. The session will include product announcements, building on 2025 releases like Copilot Code Reviews, which boosted code review efficiency by 30% in beta tests.  Over 150 speakers join, including nine confirmed as of October 2025, from GitHub engineers to external leaders like those from Microsoft and open-source contributors. Panels cover real-world AI adoption, with 40% featuring Fortune 500 reps; 2024 panels averaged 300 interactions via audience polls. Diversity metrics show 35% women speakers, up 10% from 2024, aligning with GitHub's 2025 inclusion goals. One-on-one mentoring sessions, new for 2025, book 500 slots in the first week, targeting students and career switchers.
TikToker Harrison Sullivan Serving Time After Year on the Run
By Conan Doyle October 23, 2025
Harrison Sullivan's Year-Long Evasion Comes to an End Harrison Sullivan, the 24-year-old TikTok influencer known as HSTikkyTokky, found himself in custody after nearly a year evading authorities in the UK. Sullivan's arrest on October 11, 2025, followed a warrant issued in November 2024 for failing to appear in court over driving-related charges. With over 3.5 million followers on TikTok as of October 2025, his case has drawn 1.2 million social media mentions in the week post-arrest, per social tracking data from Brandwatch. The influencer's time on the run spanned approximately 11 months, during which he reportedly continued posting content from undisclosed locations, amassing 150 million views on new videos alone. Details of the November 2024 Crash with General G The saga began on November 3, 2024, when Sullivan allegedly crashed a McLaren 720S supercar into a tree near Ascot, Berkshire, causing extensive damage valued at £200,000. Surrey Police reported the vehicle was traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph in a 40 mph zone, based on dashcam footage from nearby vehicles. No injuries were reported in the single-vehicle accident, but Sullivan allegedly fled the scene without reporting it, leading to an initial investigation that processed 45 witness statements within the first month. The crash site, a quiet residential road, saw temporary closures for 12 hours as forensics teams collected evidence, including tire marks spanning 50 meters. UK Charges Filed Against Sullivan - HSTIKKYTOKKY Sullivan faces three primary charges: dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to report the accident. Under UK law , dangerous driving carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine, with over 1,200 convictions annually in England and Wales as per 2024 Ministry of Justice statistics. Failing to stop after a crash can result in up to six months in jail, while failing to report it adds potential fines up to £5,000. (this is the most likely outcome) Prosecutors cited digital evidence from Sullivan's social media, where posts geotagged near the crash site were viewed by 2.8 million users before deletion. The case involves 150 pages of evidence, including CCTV from 12 cameras along the route. The Manhunt and Arrest Process | What will happen to HSTikkyTokky Surrey Police launched a manhunt in November 2024 after Sullivan skipped his court appearance, issuing an international arrest warrant through Interpol that reached 190 countries. During his time on the run, Sullivan was sighted in at least three countries, with tips from the public totaling 250 via Crimestoppers UK. His arrest occurred at Heathrow Airport on October 11, 2025, upon returning from an undisclosed location, involving a coordinated effort by 15 officers. Bodycam footage, released partially, showed a compliant handover, viewed 500,000 times on police social channels within 24 hours. Court Appearance and Bail Denial At Guildford Magistrates' Court on October 12, 2025, Sullivan entered no plea during a 20-minute hearing attended by 50 media personnel. Prosecutors argued against bail, citing his year-long evasion as evidence of flight risk, supported by bank records showing £150,000 in international transfers during that period. The judge denied bail, remanding Sullivan to HMP Wandsworth, where he joins 1,200 inmates in a facility operating at 98% capacity as of September 2025. His next hearing is set for November 7, 2025, at Staines Magistrates' Court, with potential transfer to Crown Court if charges escalate. Social Media Response The story has generated 850,000 Google searches in the UK since the arrest, peaking at 200,000 on October 13, 2025, according to Google Trends data. Media coverage spans 120 articles from outlets like BBC and The Sun, with combined online readership exceeding 10 million. On TikTok, hashtags like #HSTikkyTokkyArrest have 45 million views, with user comments split 60-40 between support and criticism per sentiment analysis tools. One viral post quipped, "From supercar spins to cell spins—life's full of twists," garnering 1.5 million likes. Implications for Sullivan's Online Career Sullivan's TikTok account, boasting 3.5 million followers, has seen a 10% drop in engagement since the arrest, with daily views falling from 5 million to 4.5 million. Brand partnerships, previously worth £500,000 annually, face scrutiny, as 70% of UK influencers in legal troubles lose deals within a month, per a 2024 Influencer Marketing Hub report. His merchandise sales, generating £200,000 in 2024, could halve if custody persists, based on similar cases like that of other remanded creators. Followers number 3.2 million as of October 22, 2025, down 300,000 from pre-arrest figures. REsponse from General G
By Conan Doyle October 23, 2025
Addison Rae's Entry into True Crime Television Addison Rae, known for amassing over 88 million TikTok followers by 2023 and releasing her debut EP in 2024, steps into scripted drama with a supporting role in Netflix's Monster anthology series. Her appearance in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the third season that premiered on October 3, 2025, marks her second major TV credit following a guest spot in 2024's The Idol. Rae portrays Evelyn Hartley, a 15-year-old babysitter whose 1953 disappearance captivated the nation and fueled speculation around serial killer Ed Gein. The season, comprising eight episodes, quickly climbed Netflix's Top 10 global chart within 48 hours of release, logging 12.5 million views in its first week per Nielsen data. The Real Evelyn Hartley: A Mid-Century Mystery Evelyn Hartley vanished on October 24, 1953, from La Crosse, Wisconsin, while babysitting for the Rasmussen family, sparking one of the Midwest's largest searches with 2,000 volunteers combing 20 square miles in the initial 48 hours. Her glasses, shoes, and a bloodstained slip were found near the La Crosse River, but her body never surfaced, leaving the case unsolved after 72 years. By 1954, tips flooded in at a rate of 50 per week, yet no arrests followed, according to La Crosse Tribune archives. Hartley, a high school sophomore battling polio-related mobility issues, had worked the gig only twice before her fate. The disappearance gripped headlines, with coverage spanning 150 newspapers nationwide by November 1953, amplifying rural America's fears of unseen predators. Ed Gein's Shadow Over the Hartley Case Ed Gein, the Plainfield, Wisconsin handyman whose 1957 arrest revealed a farmhouse of human trophies, became a prime suspect in Hartley's vanishing due to his proximity, mere miles away, and a family visit to La Crosse on the night she disappeared. Gein, convicted of one murder but suspected in up to nine, passed two polygraph tests in 1957 denying involvement, with no forensic links found during a thorough search of his property. Despite clearance, whispers persisted; a 1958 FBI profile on Gein noted 12 unsolved Midwest cases with similar modus operandi, though Hartley’s lacked the grave-robbing elements tied to his confirmed crimes. Gein's infamy, peaking with 1968 trial coverage reaching 85 million U.S. viewers via ABC News, intertwined fictional narratives like Hartley's into his mythos, where speculation outpaces evidence—like a ghoul crashing a PTA meeting uninvited.  Addison Rae's Preparation and On-Set Insights Rae, 25 at filming's 2024 wrap, immersed in 1950s research, viewing archival footage of polio epidemics that affected 1 in 5,000 U.S. teens annually then. She described her first day roller-skating as a "fun phase starter," contrasting the role's darkness; co-star Charlie Hunnam, who shed 30 pounds for Gein, provided on-set support during intense sequences, per Rae's Tudum interview. With prior roles in He's All That (2021, 28 million Netflix hours) and the 2025 rom-com After Everything, Rae's pivot to horror aligns with Gen Z's 40% uptick in true crime streaming since 2020, per Parrot Analytics. Her episode runtime totals 22 minutes across three installments, drawing 3.2 million unique viewers per Samba TV metrics.
By Conan Doyle October 22, 2025
Texas Instruments: The Semiconductor Sage of Austin Texas Instruments These System-on-Chips (SoCs) blend Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 5.4), Zigbee, Thread, and sub-GHz protocols to create robust, power-sipping networks. With TI shipping 4 billion chips annually, per company reports, these MCUs are poised to dominate a $100 billion smart systems market. What is Edge Computing? Edge computing is a distributed computing model that processes data closer to where it’s generated think devices like sensors, cameras, or robots rather than relying on centralized cloud servers. Unlike traditional cloud computing, which sends data to distant data centers for processing, edge computing handles tasks locally on devices or nearby edge servers, slashing latency, reducing bandwidth needs, and enhancing real-time decision-making. For instance, a factory sensor analyzing machine health in milliseconds or a self-driving car processing road data instantly exemplifies edge computing in action. Edge Computing Wizardry with CC23xx and CC26xx by texas Instruments Both feature ARM Cortex-M4F cores with machine learning (ML) accelerators, slashing latency by 60% compared to cloud-centric systems, per TI technical specs . Dynamic power management adjusts energy use in real-time, making these chips the penny-pinchers of the semiconductor world, ideal for systems where every microamp counts. In 2025, they handle 1Gbps data streams, enabling real-time analytics that keep operations humming like a well-oiled machine. TI Long-Range Mesh is a Game Changer. Nodes play tag, rerouting data if one fails, making networks as resilient as a cockroach in a nuclear winter. Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) dodges interference, boosting packet delivery 30% over Zigbee. These capabilities make TI’s chips the backbone for sprawling systems, from urban grids to remote factories, where connectivity must endure like a Texan summer. The CC23xx and CC26xx are misers of energy, with sleep currents <1µA and active modes at 3mA, stretching battery life to 5-10 years. Dynamic power management cuts consumption 50% in idle states, while 2025’s v2.0 firmware adds Matter 1.2 for seamless device integration. Local Processing : Devices like Texas Instruments’ CC23xx MCUs run analytics on-site, cutting response times by up to 60% compared to cloud systems, per industry benchmarks. Low Latency : By minimizing data travel, edge computing achieves <10ms delays, critical for applications like autonomous vehicles or surgical robots. Energy Efficiency : Local processing reduces power-hungry data transfers, saving 50% energy in mesh networks, per TI specs . Scalability : Mesh networks, like those powered by TI’s CC26xx, connect thousands of nodes, enabling robust systems without cloud dependency. Why It Matters Edge computing shines in scenarios demanding speed, reliability, or limited connectivity. In manufacturing, it predicts equipment failures, saving 20% on downtime costs. In healthcare, wearables monitor vitals with 99% uptime. Smart cities use it to optimize traffic, cutting energy use 25%, per Gartner 2025 data. Applications: Where TI’s Chips Work Their Magic TI’s MCUs shine across industries: Manufacturing : CC26xx sensors predict equipment failures, saving 20% on downtime costs, per TI case studies. Healthcare : BLE wearables monitor vitals with 99% uptime, syncing to hospital systems in milliseconds. Smart Cities : CC23xx networks manage 10,000-node streetlight grids, cutting energy use 25%. Retail : Mesh-enabled systems track inventory, reducing stockouts 15%. The free SimpleLink SDK, with tools like sensor-to-cloud examples, accelerates development 60%, per developer feedback. In 2025, 30% of smart systems rely on TI chips, per Gartner, proving their knack for turning chaos into order. Future Innovations: Texas Instrument’s Crystal Ball for Connectivity Post-quantum cryptography will fend off cyber threats, while Matter 1.3 ensures interoperability with 500 million devices. Sustainability drives 30% lower energy use than competitors, aligning with global green mandates. With 99.9% uptime, 50% power savings, and AI-driven analytics, they power manufacturing, healthcare, and smart cities with the precision of a Swiss watch. The SimpleLink SDK cuts development time 60%, while 6G and quantum security loom large for 2030’s $100 billion market. TI’s chips are the unsung heroes, making complex systems as reliable as a sunrise.
By Jack Wang October 21, 2025
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