German carmaker, Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) announced Wednesday that they have opened discussions with global technology companies to explore partnerships for the development of new digital prototypes utilizing artificial intelligence.
In an effort to foster creativity and collaboration, the company has established an 'artificial intelligence lab' dedicated to generating fresh product concepts.
This initiative includes the potential for collaborations with technology firms in China, North America, and Europe.
According to the company’s statement, the project’s primary focus will be on creating early-stage prototypes in areas such as AI-optimized charging cycles, predictive maintenance services, and voice recognition.
"Exploratory talks are already underway with international tech companies on initial projects," Volkswagen added.
The lab will operate independently from Volkswagen's software unit Cariad or any particular brand, aiming to expedite its processes beyond the usual pace within the company. Even though the lab won't be integrated into Cariad, any successful prototypes will be handed over to respective brands for validation and implementation.
The lab's supervisory board will feature representatives from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche (ETR:P911_p).
Concurrently, Cariad, currently undergoing a restructuring plan due to persistent delays and overhauls, is considering measures such as workforce reduction, potentially cutting thousands of positions as it strives to introduce new software architectures to the market.