Toyota announced a plan to invest $1 billion over five years in a new R&D venture specialized in artificial intelligence and robotics. Research will be conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University in California.
The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) will employ around 200 people when it opens in January. It will be headed by Gill Pratt, a robotics expert who previously worked for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
"Our initial goals are to: 1) improve safety by continuously decreasing the likelihood that a car will be involved in an accident; 2) make driving accessible to everyone, regardless of ability; and 3) apply Toyota technology used for outdoor mobility to indoor environments, particularly for the support of seniors,” said Pratt.