Nvidia to deepen AI ties with Toyota, robotics firms

US chip giant Nvidia Corp. said Thursday it will expand its partnership with Toyota Motor Corp. and help Fujitsu Ltd. forge partnerships with Japanese robotics makers in the physical artificial intelligence sector.

The AI chipmaker will help the Japanese carmaker develop an AI model to design traffic control systems for Woven City, a city-sized mobility test site in Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture. Toyota uses the site to test everyday life with robotics, AI and self-driving transportation.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Nvidia will also cooperate in developing AI-powered production robots under the expanded partnership. The two companies have already worked together on advanced driver-assistance technology and vehicle operating systems.

Fujitsu, a Japanese information and communications technology company, said it will tie up with Fanuc Corp., Yaskawa Electric Corp. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. to develop AI-powered robots for manufacturing, logistics and healthcare services using Nvidia’s technology.

The cooperation among the five companies is designed to help address labor shortages and offset the decline in the number of skilled workers.

“My personal hope is that our work together will open a new frontier for robotics and intelligence manufacturing for Japan,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at a media briefing in Tokyo.

“Together we’re bringing physical AI to mechatronics, and the next industrial revolution will be made also in Japan,” Huang said.