A series of partnerships announced is pushing integrating taxi service and artificial intelligence in Japan.
"Sony Corporation said today that it will build an AI-based ride-hailing system in Japan in partnership with five taxi companies," reports Catherin Shu. Those six companies include Daiwa Motor Transportation, Hinomaru Kotsu, Kokusai Motorcars, Green Cab and Checker Cab Group.
"The service will use artificial intelligence to manage taxi dispatches and forecast demand based on factors like weather, traffic and local events," according to Shu.
Sony's service is not the only AI-based ride hailing service at work in Japan. JapanTaxi and Toyota announced a partnership to offer AI-based ride hailing. JapanTaxi has already made significant in-roads into the country with 60,000 taxis, or one-forth of all taxis in operation in the country, registered on its service.
Read the full story: Sony Corp. to launch an AI-based taxi-hailing service in Japan
Toyota Working on the Smartest City Yet, Built From Scratch
Checking in with Toyota's plans for an interconnected smart "city of the future" means considering how their approach might differ from other attempts at similar projects.
Toyota Wants to Build the City of the Future in Japan
Toyota plans to break ground on the "Woven City" future city prototype in 2021.
The future of GIS, explored
The pros and cons of ArcGIS Urban, CityEngine, AI assistants and more notes from the 2026 Esri User Conference.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop
New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.
Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan
The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.
LA Metro’s ultimatum: no extra buses for LA28 if federal funding isn’t imminently secured
If Metro does not provide additional buses, LA28 organizers will have to find a new way to manage Olympic traffic. LA28’s budget does not include a line item for transit.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association