Sony May Launch an AI-powered Taxi Hailing System

Sony definitely isn't the first name you think of when you're looking for a ride, but that might change soon in its native Japan. From a report: Nikkei has learned that the tech heavyweight is leading an alliance of taxi companies (Checker Cab, Daiwa Motor Transportation, Green Cab, Hinomaru Kotsu and Kokusai Motorcars) in the creation of an AI-powered hailing platform. The algorithmic system would dispatch taxis more effectively by studying a host of conditions like traffic, weather and events. It might send a horde of drivers near the end of a concert, for instance.

Hailing?

[thesupraman]

Sounds like a driver scheduling application, of which there are many, of varying quality.

WTF does it have to do with hailing? Just another example of quality editorial work?

Hail Hydra

[goombah99]

Well I think the point is that while most ride hailing systems are either some quasi-deterministic k-sat or integer programming algorithm or alternatively a heuristic based approach, they are going to give a AI architecture a whirl. Given that most AI are neural net powered and no one can tell you what a Neural Net might do under unusual circumstances, this could produce some really unexpected outcomes. Should be fun to watch! But you are right, it's unlikely to have better performance.

Ummm. No...

[thesupraman]

No, that is not the point...

Because you are not talking about ride HAILING systems!
Has English comprehension really become this bad? This is a Scheduling system, not a Hailing system!

I understand that the headline monkeys think that by making it sound like some kind of AI UBER competitor people may care a little more....
But this has almost NOTHING to do with Ride Hailing!

You can call me AI

[goombah99]

If you'll be my taxi fair
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you a cab
And rider, when you call me
You can call me Al
Call me Al

Re:

[goombah99]

It's Albert powered. the I and L look the same.

Is that a softmax?

[goombah99]

Or are you just glad to see me

Just what we need a Sony AI

[future assassin]

to deliver root kits when its has a bad day.

That's nothing...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm about to release an AI powered version of the "ls" command. It will use sophisticated machine learning and AI algorithms to suss out the set of files I want to list. From there it will proceed to use a neural network and some cloud infrastructure to determine the best set of options to give to the "ls" command for those files.

Finally, those files will be packaged up and sent to the data center for processing in the cloud, and the results of the "ls" will be sent back to my computer for display in an inf

Hail no

[PopeRatzo]

Sony has been on my permanent pay-no-mind list for over a decade now. They can go straight into the sea for all I care. I will not use their products, ever.

Re:

[PopeRatzo]

And we care about your opinions... why?

They're good opinions, Brett.

Sony looking for cash from Softbank?

[jrumney]

Given that Japan's Softbank has been investing heavily into Uber, Lyft, Grab and whatever other hailing/ride-sharing apps it can get its hands on, could this just be a sign that Sony is short of cash, and looking for a handout from Softbank?

Re:

[HideyoshiJP]

In Japan, the only people who can offer these services are existing professional drivers. Per the CNBC report [cnbc.com]: "Tough rules legislate ride-hailing apps in Japan. Non-professional drivers are effectively barred from offering taxi services, so apps like Uber have to link riders with existing taxi fleets. That means its core service, that it offers in major markets like the U.S. and U.K., is not in full operation in Japan." Believe me, in Japan, the country full of petty rule followers, nobody is "courageousl

In fact...

[namgge]

Sony definitely isn't the first name you think of when you're looking for a ride,

Nope, I've been taken for a ride several times by Sony in the past.