Automation for the People: Developing Intelligent Machines for a Human-Centric Future

At Ride AI 2025, Dr. Gill Pratt (CEO of Toyota Research Institute) talks to Edward Niedermeyer about Toyota’s uniquely human-centered approach to automation and robotics. Rooted in the principle of Jidoka—automation with a human touch—this session explores how Toyota is designing technology to augment rather than replace human labor.From the integration of Kaizen with AI, to the reveal of autonomous drifting tech that merges safety with driving thrill, Dr. Pratt highlights how Toyota blends innovation with empathy. The discussion also touches on machine learning breakthroughs that let robots learn from human behavior, and how this tech could support an aging global population.It’s a deep-dive into purpose-driven innovation—where automation, robotics, and AI are built to elevate human capability, not sideline it.