Published

SEAT Taps IBM Watson for Mobility Platform

Volkswagen AG’s SEAT unit is working with IBM Corp. to develop a mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) platform to help consumers compare and book various travel options.

Share

Volkswagen AG’s SEAT unit is working with IBM Corp. to develop a mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) platform to help consumers compare and book various travel options.

SEAT President Luca de Meo previewed the plan to Bloomberg News last week.

The carmaker’s Mobility Advisor system will use IBM’s Watson artificial intelligence technology to quickly assess the time, cost and environmental impact of multiple transportation methods. This will include personal vehicles, car-sharing, bicycles/scooters, public transportation and walking.

The carmaker says the system is designed to run as a mobile app on 4G/5G networks. IBM Watson will provide a conversational interface to help plan and optimize routes to a user’s destination.

Connected to the IBM Cloud, the system takes into account weather forecasts, traffic reports, construction and other local events. The program also will use machine learning to make customized recommendations based on a user’s preferences and personal information, according to the partners.

SEAT says the development program currently is at the proof-of-concept stage. IBM’s Viewnext subsidiary in Spain is working with the carmaker’s XMoba mobility team on the project.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Mustang Changes for 2018

    On Tuesday Ford unveiled—using the social media channels of actor Dwayne Johnson (this has got to unnerve some of the auto buff book editors)—the 2018 Mustang, which has undergone some modifications: under the hood (the 3.7-liter V6 is giving way to a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four, and a 10-speed automatic is available), on the dash (a 12-inch, all-digital LCD screen is available for the dashboard), at the tires (12 wheel choices), on the chassis (MagneRide damper technology is being offered with the Mustang Performance Package), and on the exterior (three new paint colors). And while on the subject of the exterior, there are some notable changes—a lower, remodeled hood, repositioned hood vents, new upper and lower front grilles, LED front lights, revised LED taillamps, new rear bumper and fascia.

  • Cobots: 14 Things You Need to Know

    What jobs do cobots do well? How is a cobot programmed? What’s the ROI? We asked these questions and more to four of the leading suppliers of cobots. 

  • On Electric Pickups, Flying Taxis, and Auto Industry Transformation

    Ford goes for vertical integration, DENSO and Honeywell take to the skies, how suppliers feel about their customers, how vehicle customers feel about shopping, and insights from a software exec

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions