Microsoft Research recently inaugurated its newest laboratory in Tokyo, Japan, marking a significant step in the company's AI research initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Leading the lab is former Osaka University professor and senior researcher at Microsoft Research Asia, Kazuya Matsushita, who returns to Microsoft with ten years of academic experience to embark on a new chapter. The new laboratory will focus on fields such as embodied AI, health and welfare, neuroscience, social AI, and industrial innovation, aligning closely with Japan's socioeconomic development priorities. Through deep collaboration with local academia and industry, the laboratory aims to contribute to global innovation.

The globally renowned ride-hailing platform Uber has announced a collaboration with the UK-based artificial intelligence company Wayve to jointly develop vehicles equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities, with plans for deployment in multiple markets worldwide. This partnership serves as a strategic investment by Uber to supplement Wayve's Series C funding, as its technology will be integrated into Uber's autonomous vehicle fleet, accelerating collaborations with global automotive manufacturers. Wayve's Embodied AI technology enables vehicles to operate outside pre-mapped areas within geofenced regions and has launched the largest initiative in Europe in London.