Toyota invests $1.4b in artificial intelligence

Toyota has announced it will establish a primary research laboratory to develop cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in Silicon Valley near Stanford University, California.

Dubbed the Toyota Research Institute, it's part of a huge $US1 billion (A$1.4b) cash injection to accelerate development of new technologies over the next five years that it says will not only improve its vehicles, but society as a whole.

Some of the core areas to be studied for future product deployment include driverless cars, collision prevention and safety systems and improving vehicle accessibly, especially for seniors.

It's not yet clear if Toyota will develop a rival to Honda's all-singing, all-dancing ASIMO humanoid robot.

However, Toyota is adamant AI and robotics will spawn an entirely new industry in the future, while simultaneously ensuring its future industrial technologies remain efficient.

The Silicon Valley Toyota Research Institute will be headed up by Dr Gill Pratt (pictured), Toyota's executive technical adviser, who said: "We also plan to apply our work more broadly, for example, to improve production efficiency and accelerate scientific discovery in materials."

To be established in January, the new research centre will fast-track the deployment of not only vehicle-related technology, but also 'big data'. In turn, this will contribute to a "sustainable future where everyone can experience a safer, freer and unconstrained life", insists the company.

With a staff of around 200 experts planned, Toyota will be hoping to poach the cream of Silicon Valley's crop, and will also have some help from Stanford University and MIT. It has set aside $US50 million (A$70m) to deploy and foster research centres at leading universities.

The man who gave the green light to the unprecedented billion-dollar investment, Toyota president Akio Toyoda, said the new research facility would lead to improved cars.

"As technology continues to progress, so does our ability to improve products. At Toyota, we do not pursue innovation simply because we can; we pursue it because we should.

"It is our responsibility to make life better for our customers, and society as a whole," said Toyoda.