AI Supports Safe and Enjoyable Driving

The "Concept-i," announced as a car that understands its driver and embodies the future of mobility society, applies the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Its greatest feature is its ability to not only drive autonomously but also to infer the driver's preferences and engage in conversation and respond appropriately to the situation.

In the Concept-i, an AI called an "agent" grasps the driver's emotions, fatigue level, and state of alertness. Toyota claims it can guide the driver toward safer driving by changing the interior lighting or appealing to the five senses, and can also propose switching to autonomous driving mode if the driver feels anxious, thereby watching over and assisting the driver.

Furthermore, it is said to be able to anticipate the driver's feelings and proactively offer suggestions. The car can initiate conversations on topics tailored to the driver or present news of interest based on the driver's emotions and alertness, realizing interactive, free-flowing conversation.

It also accumulates individual emotions and preferences, and through an "Emotion Map" utilizing big data, it can even suggest routes that are enjoyable even if they are a bit longer.

The vehicle design was handled by Calty Design Research, Toyota's US design studio. The styling features a design that extends from the instrument panel to the exterior, originating from the agent located in the center of the dashboard, creating a unified interior and exterior. The doors are scissor doors, and the powertrain is envisioned as zero-emission, such as EV.

Public road testing for this Concept-i is planned within the next few years, with experimental vehicles incorporating some of the features shown here scheduled to operate in Japanese cities.