Toyota and NTT Collaborate on AI-Based Driving Software to Enhance Road Safety

Toyota Motor Corp and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp have announced a partnership to create a new platform that will utilize artificial intelligence to support driving software, with the goal of reducing vehicle accidents.

The collaboration between these two major companies, who have been working together since forming a capital alliance in 2020 to develop smart, energy-efficient cities, aims to invest a significant amount—approximately 500 billion yen—into this project. The research and development phase of the software is set to commence next year, potentially paving the way for advancements in self-driving technology.

Toyota and NTT are aiming to implement this AI-driven software by around 2028, with a broader rollout anticipated by 2030. In a recent press conference, Toyota President Koji Sato emphasized the importance of creating an AI and communication platform that can reshape the future of transportation.

To foster a society with zero traffic accidents, Sato noted the necessity of better anticipating the risks associated with driving. The AI technology being developed is expected to gather driving data, analyze the likelihood of accidents, and take autonomous control of vehicles to avert collisions.

Given that the software must handle extensive volumes of data, the partnership plans to utilize NTT's next-generation Innovative Optical and Wireless Network for enhanced processing speed. NTT President Akira Shimada shared that the collaboration aims to make vehicles not only "smarter" but also "safer" through the utilization of AI that learns from the information it processes.

Shimada also stated the ambition to develop this platform with a global perspective, considering the international presence of both Toyota and NTT. When asked about the potential for advancing self-driving technology with this platform, Sato indicated that Toyota will take a gradual approach, building on existing features of driving assistance systems while advancing further.

Since 2017, Toyota and NTT have been working together on developing "connected cars" which are equipped with sophisticated telecommunication systems.

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Toyota, NTT, AI