Toyota Motor Corp (ADR) (NYSE:TM) announced on Thursday that it is joining forces with Line Corp to develop AI-based hands-free tech that will allow vehicle owners to connect their phones while driving.
The Japanese vehicle manufacturer aims to work together with Line to create a new AI-based system that will allow users to access services on their phones such as sending messages, maps, or even playing music via voice command without having to touch their smartphones. This is expected to help lower the risks of accidents since drivers will be more attentive on the road and not be distracted by their mobile phones.
“We aim to realize a safer, more convenient, and comfortable environment inside vehicles,” stated Shigeki Tomoyama the senior managing officer at Toyota.
Line to provide its cloud-based AI platform for the joint project
Toyota’s new hands-free system will be made using Line’s cloud-based AI platform called Clova. Their aim is to create a Cloud Virtual Assistant that will recognize audio commands and respond accordingly. The two firms aim to commercialize the technology next year. Toyota will provide its open-source standard for the project. The Japanese vehicle manufacturer also revealed that it plans to use the technology to venture into connected cars.
Line is popular in Asia especially thanks to Clova. The digital assistant taps into Big Data and cloud-powered AI to recognize users’ faces, actions, and voices. It is designed to understand complex questions and even offer refined recommendations. Toyota believes that AI technologies are the future of its autonomous vehicles that will have the ability to react to changing road conditions. The company wants the technologies to react as fast as humans or possibly even faster.
The Japanese vehicle manufacturer previously announced that its autonomous vehicle systems will be powered by the Drive PX supercomputer from Drive PX supercomputer. The announcement plus the new partnership with Line point to the fact that Toyota is investing heavily in autonomous technology. It will be interesting to see what the company will offer to the automotive market.
Toyota stock closed the latest trading session on Thursday at $105.78. After dropping by 0.86 percent from the previous session.
