Inside Toyota's $10 Billion Woven City: A Vision of the Future
Toyota built a $10 billion private utopia—what’s going on in there?
Ars Technica
Image: Ars Technica
Toyota has invested $10 billion to create Woven City, a futuristic urban environment where researchers and residents live and work together. Designed to enhance safety through advanced technology, the city raises concerns about privacy due to its extensive surveillance systems.
- 01Toyota's Woven City aims to transform the company into a leading mobility provider.
- 02The city features advanced safety measures with a goal of achieving zero accidents.
- 03Ubiquitous surveillance raises significant privacy concerns among residents and visitors.
- 04The first residents, known as 'Weavers,' are integral to the city's technological development.
- 05Toyota's approach includes vehicle-to-everything communications to enhance safety.
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Toyota's ambitious project, Woven City, represents a $10 billion investment in creating a futuristic urban environment on a former factory site. Launched by CEO Akio Toyoda at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show, the city is designed to foster collaboration among researchers, engineers, and residents, known as 'Weavers.' The primary goal is to transform Toyota into a leading mobility company, with a strong emphasis on safety and the aspiration of achieving a 'society with zero accidents.' John Absmeier, the Chief Technology Officer of Woven City, highlighted the need for enhanced awareness in autonomous vehicles, which will require extensive monitoring systems, including cameras on every street. However, the extensive surveillance infrastructure, with numerous cameras installed throughout the city, raises privacy concerns, prompting discussions about the balance between safety and personal privacy in this innovative environment.
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Woven City aims to set a new standard for urban living and mobility, potentially influencing future city designs and safety protocols globally.
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