HANNOVER – Continental, a leading technology company, announced today its expansion of the international network for artificial intelligence (AI) with a new membership at the University of California, Berkeley’s DeepDrive (BDD) center in Silicon Valley. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate the development of neural networks for future automotive applications and enhance the safety of AI systems, according to a press release published on EuropaWire.

Demetrio Aiello, Head of Continental’s Corporate Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Continental is joining forces with the world’s leading AI researchers to drive innovation in mobility. By becoming members of the UC Berkeley DeepDrive center, we aim to leverage cutting-edge AI research to implement transformative solutions into series production.”

The research partnership between Continental and BDD focuses on two primary areas: enhancing the testability of AI algorithms in safety-critical systems and optimizing the efficiency of neural networks for memory-intensive AI applications. Professor Trevor Darrell, Director of the BDD center, highlighted the significance of Continental’s participation in advancing automotive AI technologies, emphasizing the synergy between academia and industry.

Continental’s commitment to AI research extends beyond this partnership, with strategic collaborations with leading institutions worldwide, including the University of Oxford, DFKI, and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The company’s dedication to driving mobility forward is reflected in its investment in AI talent and expertise, with plans to employ around 400 AI engineers globally by the end of 2018.

Dr. Stefan Voget, leading the relationship with UC Berkeley on behalf of Continental, emphasized the strategic importance of collaboration in accelerating mobility innovation. He stated, “Together with BDD, we can advance the implementation of AI technologies in automotive applications, driving mobility forward faster than ever.”

Continental’s membership at the BDD center underscores its commitment to leveraging AI research to shape the future of mobility, enhance safety, and accelerate innovation in automotive technology.