Rudy Lai

AI @ Toyota

Major U.S. sales, production footprint
Industry
Last updated
July 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM

Summary

  • Toyota has progressively integrated AI from foundational research in 2015 to advanced generative AI applications for vehicle design by 2023, with key figures like AI Chief Brian Kursar leading recent initiatives.
  • Significant investments, such as the $3.3 billion joint AI platform development with NTT announced in late 2024, underline Toyota's strong commitment to AI innovation across manufacturing, design, and safety domains.
  • The company has expanded AI use cases from internal manufacturing optimizations and engineering design assistance to deploying AI agents and humanoid robots aimed at accelerating innovation, enhancing customer experiences, and aspiring towards a zero-accident society.

VIBE METER

More AI announcements = more VIBE
Q1 23Q2 23Q3 23Q4 23Q1 24Q2 24Q3 24Q4 24Q1 25Q2 25Q3 25🔥🔥🔥🔥

5 AI Use Cases at Toyota

Humanoid Robotics
2025
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Costs
In partnership with Boston Dynamics, Toyota Research Institute developed AI-powered humanoid robots with advanced mobility and dexterity aimed at automating tasks in unstructured or unsafe environments. [1][2]
Knowledge Sharing
2024
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Risk
Toyota deploys generative AI agents internally to capture and share engineering expertise and accelerate the development of new vehicle models through collective intelligence. [1]
Automated Driving
2023
Customer Facing
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Toyota Research Institute advances AI-assisted driving technologies focused on human-focused machine learning to improve vehicle safety and driver assistance capabilities. [1][2]
Design Automation
2023
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Revenue
Toyota utilizes generative AI techniques to assist vehicle designers by generating designs that incorporate engineering and manufacturing constraints, speeding up concept iterations while maintaining safety and feasibility. [1][2]
Factory Optimization
2022
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Costs
Toyota employed AI in North American factories to make more intelligent operational decisions improving manufacturing efficiency and product quality through real-time data analysis. [1][2]

Timeline

2025 Q3

1 updates

Collaboration with Boston Dynamics led to AI-powered humanoid robots enhancing automation capabilities; generative AI tools continued to advance vehicle design processes.

2025 Q2

1 updates

Toyota launched the Toyota Software Academy and Global AI Accelerator (GAIA) to upskill AI and software professionals across the group for product innovation.

2025 Q1: no updates

2024 Q4

1 updates

Toyota announced a $3.3 billion joint investment with NTT to develop an AI infrastructure platform aiming for zero accidents and faster innovation, deploying generative AI agents internally.

2024 Q3

1 updates

Toyota recognized AI's potential to enhance vehicle safety, autonomous driving, driver experience, and environmental sustainability.

2024 Q2: no updates

2024 Q1

1 updates

Toyota expanded AI ambitions toward personalized driving experiences, safety, and sustainability, advancing beyond autonomous driving.

2023 Q4

1 updates

Toyota showcased latest AI-assisted driving and automated driving technologies, emphasizing human-focused machine learning for safety improvements.

2023 Q3

1 updates

Toyota's generative AI tool began transforming vehicle design by producing concept images with adherence to engineering and manufacturing constraints.

2023 Q2

1 updates

TRI unveiled a generative AI technique that assists vehicle designers by incorporating engineering constraints into design generation.

2023 Q1

1 updates

Toyota Research Institute showcased advances in human-centered AI targeting capabilities to enhance human understanding and societal well-being.

2022 Q4: no updates

2022 Q3: no updates

2022 Q2

1 updates

In partnership with Invisible AI, Toyota deployed AI-driven systems in North American factories enhancing decision-making and operational intelligence.

2022 Q1: no updates

2021 Q4

1 updates

Toyota publicized diverse AI applications in automotive business, highlighting two unique AI use cases supporting manufacturing and mobility.

2021 Q3: no updates

2021 Q2: no updates

2021 Q1: no updates

2020 Q4

1 updates

Toyota AI Ventures invested in YPC Technologies via a $1.8M seed funding round, marking expansion of their AI startup portfolio.

2020 Q3: no updates

2020 Q2: no updates

2020 Q1: no updates

2019 Q4: no updates

2019 Q3: no updates

2019 Q2: no updates

2019 Q1: no updates

2018 Q4: no updates

2018 Q3

1 updates

Toyota AI Ventures launched calls to fund AI and robotics startups focusing on autonomous mobility, data, and cloud solutions.

2018 Q2: no updates

2018 Q1: no updates

2017 Q4: no updates

2017 Q3: no updates

2017 Q2: no updates

2017 Q1: no updates

2016 Q4: no updates

2016 Q3: no updates

2016 Q2: no updates

2016 Q1: no updates

2015 Q4

1 updates

Toyota established a new AI research group focusing on applications like car scheduling, traffic management, and factory operations.