Toyota

How Dallas-Fort Worth Has Become a Hotbed of Artificial Intelligence Technology

by | Feb 16, 2023
"AI now is where the web was in the mid- to late-'90s," Sentiero Ventures' David Evans says. And North Texas is becoming central to the AI revolution, he and other local tech leaders contend. DFW's role as an AI hub has been burnished by its tech workforce, the breadth and diversity of its industries, its thriving startup community, and its wealth of AI-oriented universities and research institutions. Most important of all, though, is the region's status as a magnet for Fortune 500 companies, many of which are eager to partner with AI's local pioneers.

Here's what leading North Texas experts have to say.
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Let’s Talk: Toyota, Google Cloud Expand Next-Gen In-Car Voice AI Systems
by | Oct 11, 2022
Plano-based Toyota North America is expanding its partnership with Google Cloud to enhance AI-based speech services in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Audio control is now just a voice command away, processed by in-vehicle voice AI. And a future Speech On-Device offering could offer a range of natural speech functions without even using the cloud—eliminating "dead zones" and tunnel dropouts.
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Plano-Based Toyota Partners with the DOE on a $6.5M Megawatt-Scale Fuel Cell Project
by | Aug 24, 2022
Fuel cells for cars? Think bigger—because Toyota sure is. After developing hydrogen fuel cell technology for over 25 years, mostly aimed at carbon-zero vehicles, the company is scaling up the tech for uses far beyond cars. Now it's working with the U.S. government to build a system that can add energy to the grid, power things like data centers, and more.
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The Last Word: Toyota’s Trey Spyropoulos on the SWARM Connected Mobility Hackathon
Over 400 Toyota software and hardware engineers from around the world gathered at the company's Plano campus last month for the SWARM Connected Mobility Hackathon—a 36-hour companywide “concept-to-creation” challenge. And seven UT Dallas students were along for the ride.
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Fast-Growing ‘People Development’ Software Startup Relocates HQ as It Changes the Game in HR and Leadership Development

by | Jun 28, 2022
Leadr has tripled its revenue by focusing on employee engagement and performance as a natural outcome of developing the whole person.

There's "a real tiredness in the industry" around traditional performance management, says co-founder Chris Heaslip. His startup is on the vanguard of change in manager and employee relationships.
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Sherman Picked for New $5B Silicon Wafer Plant, Bringing 1,500 New Jobs to North Texas
by | Jun 27, 2022
Beating out potential sites in Ohio and South Korea, the city of Sherman was selected today by GlobiTech for a new $5 billion, 3.2 million-square-foot silicon wafer facility. The plant could eventually produce more than 1 million silicon wafers monthly when production begins by 2025. It's Sherman's second big manufacturing win in a month. Just weeks ago, Texas Instruments broke ground in the city on new semiconductor wafer fabrication plants with a potential $30 billion investment.
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Toyota industry veterans Bob Carter, Mike Owens, Tracy Doi, and Zack Hicks will retire this summer.
Toyota Makes Multiple Leadership, Structural Changes to Further Its Mobility Transformation as Four Execs Retire
by | Jun 9, 2022
Four industry stalwarts will retire this summer at Plano-based Toyota North America, leaving a legacy of firsts and innovations. In the wake, the company announced structural changes, new roles, and leadership moves to backfill the positions.

Here’s a rundown of the retiring executives—and who will take up their mantles.
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EdTech Steps Up: AT&T Launches The Achievery; Istation Intros Educator Hub; and Toyota Offers STEM Tours of Its Plants
by | Mar 28, 2022
Dallas-based AT&T just launched The Achievery, a free digital learning platform using clips from movies like "Wonder Woman" and "Aquaman" to help teach reading, writing, and language skills—and make virtual learning more engaging. Along with a new educator hub from Dallas-based Istation and STEM education initiatives from Plano-based Toyota, it shows how edtech innovation is streaming out of North Texas.
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Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Raises $10M for Historic ‘Rapid Rehousing’ Program

by | Oct 18, 2021
The private donations by local companies and foundations are for the Dallas R.E.A.L. Time Rapid Rehousing initiative. Its goal: house more than 2,700 homeless people and families over the next two years. The $10M in private funds will complement $62M in federal funds allocated by local governments and DHA, the North Texas housing authority.
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Plano-Based Toyota North America Will Build a $1.29B Battery Plant in the U.S. Could it Be Coming to Texas?
by | Oct 18, 2021
The battery plant is part of a $3.4B investment Toyota announced today toward developing and localizing automotive battery production in the U.S.—including lithium-ion batteries for EVs.
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Aurora Will Test Its Fleet of Self-Driving, Ride-Hailing Toyota Robotaxis in Dallas
by | Sep 21, 2021
The "S-AM" hybrid electric minivans—short for "Sienna Autonomo-MaaS"—will be tested in a six-month pilot program in Dallas, Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay areal, and other locations. Aurora intends to deploy the vehicles on ride-hailing networks in late 2024.
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Toyota Just Parked Its Insurance Agency in Plano with First TIMS HQ
by | May 3, 2021
Toyota customers can compare and buy policies online boosted by AI, with opt-ins for usage-based data tracking of their connected vehicles. Another reason for the opening? TIMS covers more than your Rav4. The agency has expanded to offer insurance products for home, renters, RVs, even pets.
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Toyota and Purdy Mobility have launched Subscribe + Drive, a membership-based alternative to leasing and owning a vehicles.

Toyota Launches All-Inclusive Car Subscriptions With Purdy Mobility

by | Mar 16, 2021
Subscribe + Drive gives drivers a membership-based alternative to ownership or leasing. Insurance, maintenance, and home delivery are part of the package.
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Toyota Unveils Expanded Online Car Buying Experience to Keep Up With Shifting Retail Patterns
by | Feb 1, 2021
Toyota Motor North America's complete online retail experience, SmartPath, gives customers the ability to purchase a car without ever visiting a dealership.
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Toyota Motor North America Advances Fuel Cell Electric Tech on Heavy-Duty Truck Prototype
by | Dec 14, 2020
"This is an important step in the transition to emissions-free heavy-duty trucks," according to TMNA Research and Development's chief engineer Andrew Lund.
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Now Open: The Toyota Dream Car USA Art Contest Invites Kids to Explore the Future of Mobility
by | Nov 16, 2020
Toyota put out a call-to-action for its 10th annual art contest, which has youth aged 4-15 send in drawings of their dream car. Submissions can be sent in from now until January 31, 2021.
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