Honda furthers AI tech development in its cars with SoftBank partnership

Artificial intelligence is at the heart of a new partnership between Honda and internet company SoftBank. The idea is that the AI in vehicles will be able to read and react to the emotions of the drivers as intelligently as it can. “"Imagine if robots, with their super intelligence, devoted themselves to humans,” SoftBank Group Corp.’s Masayoshi Son said during an event in Tokyo announcing the partnership. “And imagine that cars themselves became supercomputers or robots one day. Honda will be the first to adopt this technology.” The team suggests that Honda cars might interact with drivers using the technology used in SoftBank’s Pepper robot. And maybe Pepper could even meet Honda’s own Asimo (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) robot.

Honda’s team will be working with SoftBank’s Cocoro SB unit on AI research for cars. This team from SoftBank is currently studying cloud-based AI on their own.  SoftBank recently acquired chipmaker ARM, which is seen as an essential move needed for this partnership to work. Honda previously announced they were establishing a research facility this September dedicated to AI technology.

Source: Reuters | Via: SlashGear

Dx3 features interactive experience for the future of retailing

 

Text and photos by Sonya Davidson

At this year's Dx3 Conference and Trade Show in Toronto, a number of interactive companies featured in the Retail Collective Lab. Curated by Doug Stephens (aka The Retai Prophet) the space offered us a glimpse into the future of how we do business. Actually, not even in the far future...but for some of the companies featured, the future is now.

Eyeris is a deep learning based emotion recognition software that reads micro-expressions. In stores, this can help managers and sales people determine when people are most likely to make a purchase as well as understanding emotional response from customers in real time. Reading the response is quite straight foward with a variety of emotions measured inlcuding joy, surprise, disgust, anger, fear..yes, sounding a bit like the Inside Out Movie. 

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Japanese telecom SoftBank tipped to acquire DreamWorks Animation

Japanese telecommunications and internet giant SoftBank is reportedly working on a deal to acquire DreamWorks Animation. Reports claim SoftBank is offering US$32 per share compared to DreamWorks Animation’s current $22 price. It isn’t clear how far along the deal is though. It would seem SoftBank is looking for a new way to grow Sprint’s market in the US after its plans to purchase T-Mobile didn’t push through. Or perhaps they want to grow DreamWorks’ content in Japan.

DreamWorks Animation is behind works such as How To Train Your Guardian franchise, Shrek, Croods, and Madagascar. The company has been struggling in the past few years because its fortunes are directly tied to box office performance. Some of the misses include Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Turbo, and Rise of the Guardians.

Source: Wall Street Journal + The Hollywood Reporter | Via: The Verge