A method for selecting a main object for an assistance function or automated driving function of a driver assistance system or driving system of a motor vehicle, the system containing object selection branches which include a first rule-based object selection branch for selecting a main object for the function and a second object selection branch, the second object selection branch including an artificial neural network for selecting a main object for the function, having the following steps: Aggregating of sensor data of the at least one sensor to form one or more object data records; Evaluating a novelty of a traffic situation characterized by the aggregated object data records in relation to training data of the artificial neural network; Switching between the object selection branches of the system, a rule-based object selection branch being used when the novelty of the traffic situation exceeds a threshold value.