Toyota invests $1 billion in car safety systems powered by A.I. and machine learning

By Miles Branman Published January 7, 2016

Toyota’s Research Institute (TRI) has announced a number of new artificial intelligence and robotics projects, including collaborations with MIT and Stanford University. The Japanese automaker’s research arm also plans to open new offices in Palo Alto, California, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. TRI was revealed this past November to bring fundamental research closer to actual product development.

TRI’s CEO Gill Pratt introduced technical and the first TRI research programs at a press conference during the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The new efforts will be guided by a board of global corporate, scientific, and public policy leaders.

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The Research Institute is funded by an initial five-year, $1 billion investment to enhance the safety of vehicles. Toyota’s goal is to eventually create a car that is “incapable of causing a crash,” increase access to cars for those who cannot drive (including the handicapped and elderly), help translate outdoor mobility technology into products for indoor mobility, and accelerate scientific discovery by applying A.I. and machine learning techniques.

It all sounds very impressive, but more interesting will be seeing how (and how quickly) these concepts will be incorporated into the mass vehicle market.

“While the most important technology for enhancing human mobility has traditionally been hardware, today software and data are increasingly essential,” said Gill Pratt, Toyota’s executive technical adviser and CEO of TRI.

“Our leadership team brings decades of experience in pushing the boundaries of human knowledge in computer science and robotics, but we are only getting started. The scale of Toyota’s commitment reflects our belief in the importance of developing safe and reliable automated mobility systems. Simply put, we believe we can significantly improve the quality of life for all people, regardless of age, with mobility products in all aspects of life.”

Two new facilities, one in Palo Alto and the other in Cambridge, officially open in January. The two offices are located within a 10-minute walk to the Stanford and MIT campuses and will further accelerate TRI’s partnership with both universities (Toyota has already committed $50 million to the two universities to fund A.I. and robotics research projects).

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A new electric vehicle startup—quietly backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos—is building something bold in Michigan. Not just a car, but a whole new idea of what an EV company can be. Slate Auto is a stealthy new automaker with one mission: ditch the luxury-first EV playbook and start from the affordable —which most drivers actually seek.
The start-up has been operating out of public sight since 2022, until TechCrunch found out about its existence. Of course, creating a little mystery about a potentially game-changing concept is a well-tested marketing approach.
But Slate truly seems to approach EVs in a very different way than most: It isn’t debuting with a six-figure spaceship-on-wheels. Instead, it's targeting the holy grail of EV dreams: a two-seat electric pickup truck for just $25,000. Yep, twenty-five grand. That’s less than a tricked-out golf cart in some neighborhoods. Slate is flipping the Tesla model on its head. Tesla, but also the likes of Lucid, BMW, and to a certain degree, Rivian, all started with high-end vehicles to build brand and bankroll future affordable car. But Slate wants to start with the people’s pickup—and letting it grow with you.
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Backing up this idea is an equally bold strategy: selling accessories, apparel, and utility add-ons à la Harley-Davidson and Jeep’s MoPar division. You’re not just buying a vehicle; you’re buying into a lifestyle. Think affordable EV meets open-source car culture.
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As Kia reported record first-quarter sales, Eric Watson, Kia America VP of sales, made a point of painting a rosy picture for the future: Now that the latest versions of its two best-selling electric vehicles, the EV9 and the EV6, are in full-scale production at Kia’s plant in Georgia, the road is paved for further sales growth.
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