Two major players in the robotics and artificial intelligence industry, Honda Motors and SoftBank Group, recently announced that they are working together on a project that will integrate AI-based emotion engine into vehicles.
In today's world where artificial intelligence is in many ways associated with self-driving cars, Honda and SoftBank are taking a different route. The two companies are aiming to develop a vehicle that can read human emotions, and act as a partner to its human driver. It was revealed that this project was formulated by the two companies' visionary founders almost three decades ago.
In a statement acquired by Nikkei Asian Review, Honda research and development president Masayoshi Son said, "Cars will become running, smart robots."
Recently, Honda acquired United Kingdom-based semiconductor designer ARM holdings for $31.2 billion. The acquisition was later revealed as a groundwork for SoftBank's foray in the Internet of Things industry.
In a recent event hosted by Honda and SoftBank, a presentation showed images of AI being able to read a person's emotions and give advice based on these emotions, according to The Nation. In order to improve its research and development in artificial intelligence, Honda is slated to open a new laboratory in Tokyo in September.
As for SoftBank, the company said that its robotics division Coco SB is researching cloud-based artificial intelligence. With its highly skilled robot named Pepper, SoftBank claims that it is a pioneer in the development of robots that can recognize human emotions.
Aside from Honda, Japanese automaker Toyota is also making headways in the artificial intelligence industry. The company said that it has invested a total of $1 billion in various Silicon Valley-based robotics research firms that will help develop smart car safety features and self-driving cars. On the other hand, Nissan announced that it is planning to release into the Japanese market a vehicle that is integrated with self-driving technology.
