A.I. and robotics? Yes, we’re going there in a big way with a $1 billion R&D investment... https://t.co/60J7oOTBzk pic.twitter.com/mWnoQpmhL1
— Toyota USA (@Toyota) November 6, 2015
Back in November, Toyota announced its $1 billion investment in Silicon Valley -- a research and development company called Toyota Research Institute.
Doors are opening this month, and its CEO, Dr. Gill Pratt (formerly a project manager at DARPA), is opening up about some of the company's initial goals.
The most titillating headline is that TRI will be working with MIT and Stanford to develop artificial intelligence. How that A.I. will be used is less sexy in a soundbite, but for more profound.
Using A.I. and robotics, Dr. Pratt hopes to expand and improve Toyota's mobility assistance and adaptive equipment.
In fact, far from the simple (yet life-improving) Auto Access Seat available on the Toyota Sienna, new A.I. and robotics-based accessibility features could go as far as an entirely self-driving vehicle, which could afford people previously unable to drive more independence.
Visit Marion Toyota to learn more about Toyota mobility technology, and test drive a new vehicle.
