#Japan #AI #hospitality #Taxis #Kinosaki

Revolutionizing Taxi Services with AI Interpretation

In an exciting development for the taxi industry in Japan, O-Well Corporation and its subsidiary, Uni Electronics, in partnership with Nihon Kotsu, NTT Media Supply, and ESTsoft, have announced the initiation of an AI-based interpretation service tailored for taxis. This service will launch on February 12, 2026, in the scenic Kinosaki area of Hyogo Prefecture.

Purpose of the Service

As international tourism continues to rise, there is an increasing demand for taxi services that cater to foreign visitors. However, the challenge remains in recruiting drivers proficient in multiple languages, creating a hurdle in effectively serving diverse passengers. This pilot project aims to address these issues by employing AI avatars that carry out real-time translation and provide tourist information within taxis, facilitating seamless communication between drivers and passengers.

Overview of the Pilot Project

• - Duration: February 12 to March 31, 2026
• - Location: Kinosaki area, Hyogo Prefecture
• - Scope: The project will utilize taxi vehicles operated by Nihon Kotsu.
• - Objective: Resolve multilingual communication challenges faced in taxis.

The AI avatar will function through a tablet installed in the back seat of the taxi, supporting languages such as English, German, Chinese, and Korean.

Key Features of the AI Interpreter Service

1. Interpretation Mode (Real-time multilingual translation)
- Recognizes audio from both passengers and drivers, translating it into the recipient's language.
- Operates reliably even in noisy and vibrating environments, typical in moving vehicles.
- Maintains the flow of natural conversation through real-time interpretation.

2. Travel Mode (Tourist information service)
- Engages with passengers to suggest nearby attractions and culinary experiences.
- Visualizes the current location on a map, providing guidance to their destinations.
- Enhances the immersive experience of the journey and friendly interactions.

Collaboration Among Companies

Each partner plays a pivotal role in the project:

• - Uni Electronics: Responsible for system design and technical support.
• - Nihon Kotsu: Provides the taxi vehicles and manages the operational field for the project.
• - NTT Media Supply: Handles business planning and ensures communication infrastructure is in place.
• - ESTsoft: Supplies the technology for the AI avatar.

The insights gained from this pilot will inform Uni Electronics in optimizing system design and enhancing stable operations. Significant focus will be placed on how the system performs in a moving vehicle’s noisy and vibrating environment, while also testing network coordination to improve reliability in a passenger-carrying taxi system.

Additionally, the solutions developed here could extend beyond taxis to other tourism vehicles such as buses and even hotels, supporting a broader range of applications.

Contact Information

For inquiries, please reach out to:
Uni Electronics DX Project Department
Contact Persons: Zhao, Ooyama
Phone: 03-6811-7478 (Available 9 AM to 5 PM, excluding weekends and holidays)
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About O-Well Corporation

Established in November 1943 in Osaka, O-Well has grown into a leading provider of industrial coatings, semiconductors, and electronics globally. We are committed to our corporate philosophy of “Creating Optimal Alignment” and aspire to establish O-Well as a global brand in the next decade, advancing the manufacturing sector while contributing to the creation of a sustainable society.

Company Overview:

• - CEO: Yoshiharu Kawato
• - Founded: November 8, 1943
• - Capital: 857 million yen
• - Location: Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka
• - Employees: 619 (as of March 31, 2025)

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