We’ve seen many artificially-enhanced vehicles over the years, and you can probably name a few off the top of your head. The autobots, Herbie, Johnny Cab, or even J.A.R.V.I.S., in some aspects.
However, there is one AI system that stands above the rest. It appeared in a 1982 television series, fronted by David Hasselhoff, and most frequently showed up in a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. You know it, you love it, the one and only, KITT.
What Is KITT?
KITT’s acronym stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand, and it was designed by billionaire Wilton Knight. While it was originally designed for and by the US government, Knight had bigger plans for the AI, eventually installing the system into the Pontiac.
KITT is considered a “self-aware” AI, which allows it to interact with humans, be capable of independent thought, and learn from the situations it comes across. It’s said that KITT has 1,000 megabits of memory, a high amount for the 1980s, and can speak fluent French, English, and Spanish.
Aside from its communication software, KITT can also scan and detect people and vehicles, monitor and trace radio transmissions, phone calls, or computer systems. It also comes equipped with an electrocardiograph, a voice stress analyzer, a microwave jamming system, and even bomb detection.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima on Wikimedia
What makes this AI so well-loved, however, is its human-like behavior. It’s sassy, sarcastic, witty, and thinks highly of itself, but also has a protective and loyal side, showing its care for Michael and his well-being. The AI also uses its supercomputer powers to cheat the system once or twice, cheating at slot machines, spook folks by making magnetic items fly, or simulating sounds like police sirens or animal noises.
KITT is even programmed with fears. For one, it has a fear of flying, which appears several times throughout the series. In season 3, KITT also “experiences” a traumatic event, causing it to lose its nerve out of fear of being hurt again.
Above all else, KITT was the mild-mannered, well-meaning partner to Michael, often helping him work through problems and bolstering him when his spirits were down. To fans of the franchise, KITT was decisively its own character, and not just a tool that Michael could use.
Running The Numbers
In the show, it was said that KITT’s production cost was around a whopping $11,400,000, which would run Knight Industries over $38 million today.
In real life, it costs between 9 and 10 thousand dollars to secure the car used to host KITT back in 1982, which would run you around $30,000 in 2025. The show used around 25 Pontiacs to create KITT, with only 5 cars still existing today. Hasselhoff auctioned his own model in 2021, which sold for over $300,000.
KITT was remodeled a few times, appearing in a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 1991 Dodge Stealth for the movie Knight Rider 2000, while the reboot put him in a 2008/9 Ford Shelby for the show’s reboot. However, the Pontiac is the longstanding winner of all these vehicles.
