MENU
SEARCHA Boston-based company that specializes in emotion detection technology has begun offering its Affectiva Automotive AI product to vehicle manufacturers. The product, which is considered the first in-cabin artificial intelligence sensing solution, is designed to improve road safety by identifying dangerous driving behavior.
Photo of driving distraction metrics courtesy of Affectiva.
Photo of driving distraction metrics courtesy of Affectiva.
A Boston-based company that specializes in emotion detection technology has begun offering its Affectiva Automotive AI product to vehicle manufacturers. The product, which is considered the first in-cabin artificial intelligence sensing solution, is designed to improve road safety by identifying dangerous driving behavior.
Affectiva's product could also be used in the autonomous vehicle sector, according to the company.
Affectiva Automotive AI identifies — in real-time from face and voice — complex and nuanced emotional and cognitive states of occupants in a vehicle, to deliver "comprehensive people analytics."
While interfacing with a vehicle’s safety systems, Affectiva Automotive AI can distinguish a wide range of driver impairment states caused by drowsiness, physical distraction or mental distraction. For example, the solution measures facial expressions and emotions such as joy, anger, and surprise, as well as vocal expressions of anger, arousal, and laughter. It also provides key indicators of drowsiness such as yawning, eye closure and blink rates.
Research shows that drowsy driving causes one out of every 10 crashes, according to the AAA Foundation. Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that some 1,000 injuries a day in the U.S. involve distracted driving.
"We are now training on large amounts of naturalistic driver and passenger data that Affectiva has collected, to ensure our models perform accurately in real-world automotive environments," said Rana el Kaliouby, CEO and co-founder. "With a deep understanding of the emotional and cognitive states of people in a vehicle, our technology will not only help save lives and improve the overall transportation experience, but accelerate the commercial use of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles."
Up until now, artificial intelligence has allowed self-driving systems to understand only what is occurring outside of the car. As self-driving capabilities continue to advance, it will be important to monitor a driver’s state to assess whether the driver can assume control in semi-autonomous vehicles. As autonomous vehicles become commercially available, Affectiva Automotive AI’s understanding of the in-cabin environment will shift to allow for the adaptation of the travel experience based on occupant moods and reactions.
Currently, Affectiva is collaborating with leading OEMs, Tier 1s and technology providers to bring its Automotive AI solution to production vehicles.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
Read More →
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
Read More →
More people on foot means more risk for drivers. These pedestrian safety tips can help prevent serious injuries and keep everyone safer on the road.
Read More →
Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.
Read More →
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
Read More →
