打车？试试索尼

Algorithms would predict when you’re likely to need a ride.

算法会预测你什么时候可能需要搭便车。

Sony definitely isn’t the first name you think of when you’re looking for a ride, but that might change soon in its native Japan.Nikkei has learned that the tech heavyweight is leading an alliance of taxi companies (Checker Cab, Daiwa Motor Transportation, Green Cab, Hinomaru Kotsu and Kokusai Motorcars) in the creation of an AI-powered hailing platform.The algorithmic system would dispatch taxis more effectively by studying a host of conditions like traffic, weather and events.It might send a horde of drivers near the end of a concert, for instance.

提到打车软件，人们第一反应不会想到索尼，但在它的本土日本，这种情况可能很快就会改变。日经已经了解到，这个科技巨头正在领导一个由出租车公司组成的联盟（包括出租车服务公司Checker Cab、大和汽车运输Daiwa Motor Transportation、绿色出租Green Cab、日之丸交通Hinomaru Kotsu、国际汽车Kokusai Motorcars），这是一个以人工智能为基础的平台。通过研究交通、天气和事件等一系列条件，算法系统可以更有效地调度出租车。例如，它可能会在音乐会结束时派出一大群司机。

There’s no word on when this would be ready, or whether Sony hopes to offer the service outside of Japan.

目前还没有消息证实这款产品何时能上市，也没提索尼的该项服务是否会覆盖日本以外的其他地区。

It may seem odd for Sony to chase after cabs when ridesharing services like Uber are quickly taking hold, but it doesn’t have much choice.Japan has a ban on using private cars for ride hailing services, which largely kills the ridesharing business model.This gives Sony a toehold in the transportation world without having to limit use to other countries, which could be helpful if and when self-driving cars become the norm.

在Uber这样的打车服务迅速占领市场的情况下，索尼要还想在出租车这块分一杯羹，似乎有些奇怪，但它没有太多选择。日本禁止使用私家车提供打车服务，这在很大程度上扼杀了拼车业务模式。这让索尼在运输领域有了立足之地，而无需像其他国家限制打车软件的使用，一旦自动驾驶汽车得到普及，对于专业的打车公司来说更是如虎添翼。

As it is, there’s plenty of competitive pressure.Toyota just poured about $70 million into the app creator JapanTaxi, and it’s working on its own AI-centered taxi system.If Sony doesn’t get in early, it risks missing out on what could be a hot market.

事实上，索尼的打车业务面临着巨大的压力。丰田刚刚向应用开发商日本出租（JapanTaxi）注资了约7000万美元，并正在自主开发以AI为中心的出租车系统。如果索尼没有及早进入市场，就有可能错过这个风口。