Mitsubishi Electric is giving a try with down to earth AI push

By employing artificial intelligence to support and improve existing businesses, Mitsubishi Electric is taking an unusually practical approach in a field marked by flights of fancy -- a distinction that could let the company profit from the technology far sooner than rivals. Mitsubishi Electric will put elements of AI to work in driver-assist systems as early as the year ending March 2018, the company said. The systems will monitor the driver's face and heartbeat, as well as steering wheel movements, to warn of sleepiness. In factory automation, readings of motor noise and temperature can help predict breakdowns. Mitsubishi Electric's business in this area is already booming thanks to heavy demand as companies hook up to the "internet of things."