The Saitama prefectural police, in collaboration with NTT East Corp., have successfully tested an AI-based telephone fraud detection system in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture. This innovative technology aims to combat fraudulent activities by promptly notifying victims' family members and neighbors whenever suspicious calls are identified. During a demonstration on July 27 th , a 74-year-old man received a call from an individual claiming to be his son, urgently requesting $34,000 for medical expenses following an accident. Through an AI-equipped device connected to the man's landline, the call was swiftly flagged as fraudulent based on the caller's message. T he system then automatically dialed registered contact numbers of family members, neighbors, and banks, issuing warnings about the detected fraudulent call. The trial, which took place from July 25 th to 28 th , involved the installation of devices on the landlines of eight households within the city. In one instance,...

Suzuki Motor Corporation and Japanese start-up SkyDrive Inc. have joined forces to commence the production of flying cars in spring 2024. This collaboration positions Suzuki as a key player in the rapidly growing industry of flying vehicles. Flying cars, which are aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing using multiple rotors, are primarily designed to transport a small number of people and some models can also operate on land. As part of the agreement, SkyDrive will establish a wholly-owned production subsidiary that will assemble the vehicles at Suzuki's plant located in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. This announcement follows SkyDrive's recent unveiling, during the Paris Airshow, of a plan to enhance the design of its upcoming vehicle. The new design, boasting an overall length of approximately 13 meters and a height of 3 meters, will enable the vehicle to accommodate three passengers instead of two and increase the maximum flight range from 10 to 15 kilometer...

Toyota Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. are teaming up to accelerate the development of electric vehicles (EVs), with plans to introduce an all-electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Japan as early as 2025. According to sources familiar with the matter, the companies are also considering a collaborative effort for an EV targeted at the North American and other markets. Toyota, under the leadership of new President Koji Sato, is striving to strengthen its presence in the EV market. In order to catch up with competitors in the United States and Europe, the Japanese auto giant has decided to leverage Subaru's expertise in development and production. Toyota currently holds a stake of around 20 percent in Subaru.   The forthcoming electric SUV for the Japanese market will be based on two EV models that Toyota and Subaru have previously developed together—the bZ4X from Toyota and the Solterra from Subaru. The new vehicle is expected to have a longer range than the bZ4X, which can trav...