Akihabara News (Tokyo) — An Osaka-based company called Willer has recently launched an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered taxi sharing service in Shibuya, Tokyo, and a rural area in Kyotango city, Kyoto Prefecture.
This new service, called “mobi,” starts with a customer calling a taxi with a mobile phone application, entering both the pick-up location and the destination. A five-seater or nine-seater shared taxi will arrive in about ten minutes, with the AI employed to calculate the most efficient routes to pick up other passengers and to complete the journey.
While the service is currently circumscribed to limited geographical areas, it also aims to be quite affordable yo both individuals and even families. It could be ideal for short commutes to the local train station, a school, or a market.
Fees are paid by a flat rate, with a family of three in the Shibuya area, for example, able to pay ¥6,000 (US$55) per month for an unlimited number of rides.
The company believes that over time the mobi AI will become increasingly effective at choosing the best routes in order to accomplish its missions, and therefore become more efficient both for the passengers and for the company.
Also, since there will only be a limited number of drivers, locals are likely to see a familiar face at the wheel each time the taxi arrives, adding a sense of comfort and security.
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