Honda turns to AI-powered tech to make roads safer

Honda Motor Co. is integrating artificial intelligence into its vehicles to warn drivers of imminent traffic hazards and help them avoid accidents caused by human error, as the automaker aims to meet its target of zero fatalities by 2050. Honda's AI-powered driver assistance technology -- unveiled Thursday in what the firm says is a world first -- checks a driver's movements and health using a monitoring camera and sensors. The No. 2 Japanese automaker by volume said it is planning to put the technology, including functionality that alerts against risks by tightening the driver's seatbelt or emitting audible warnings, into its vehicles in the latter half of the 2020s. Domestic automakers are stepping up their development of safety technologies, such as automatic braking systems, at a time when the country's population is rapidly aging. The auto industry has also seen increased competition to develop internet-connected cars.