Artificial intelligence is everywhere now, from online language models like ChatGPT to industry applications that include diagnosing illnesses, managing store inventory, and powering virtual smartphone assistants. The technology is already being integrated into vehicles and is expected to expand further in the coming years. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that by 2030, at least 10% of new vehicles will be partially autonomous, with an increasing share reaching Level 3 capabilities or higher.
Many automakers are developing their own versions of AI vehicle technology, and it won’t be long before one of them makes it to market. At the January 2025 CES trade show, Honda officially unveiled the Honda 0 Series of EVs, following up on a concept introduced the previous year. Along with making ground-up EVs that are lighter, more dynamic, and more efficient than ever, Honda has stated the 0 Series will further advance its Level 3 and even Level 4 AI technology, integrating it further into the driving experience.
How does Honda plan to achieve this, and what does it mean for drivers? As these vehicles inch closer to reality, let’s find out what’s known about the AI in the forthcoming Honda 0 Series and what it can offer.
Automated Driving Tech That Learns from Your Habits
Honda isn’t a stranger to active driving aids and automation. In the press release announcing the 0 Series, it claimed to be the first automaker to offer practical Level 3 vehicle equipment. This refers to Honda SENSING Elite, a system that debuted in 2021 for the Japan-only Honda Legend. With the 0 Series, Honda hopes to bring eyes-off technology worldwide and make it affordable to the masses.
Honda plans to do so by creating an AI system that advances and personalizes itself based on the people who use it. In a speech at CES 2025, executive Katsushi Inoue compared the Honda 0 Series AI to a smartphone, in that it adapts based on the owner’s habits and can continually be updated with new features.
Tech That Gives and Takes Orders
To achieve this, Honda is working with Helm.ai to develop its new automated driving technology. They are using behavior models of experienced drivers on “Deep Teaching” unsupervised learning software to lay the foundation for the vehicles’ artificial intelligence. According to Helm.ai, this technology lets a system learn based on limited data points, so it quickly develops and expands a range of possible behaviors that can adapt to geography, weather, and even rare situations.
This will be combined with Honda’s in-house Cooperative Intelligence (CI) micro-mobility technologies. Announced in November 2022, this research has two core focuses. One is allowing a vehicle to recognize situations and surroundings using cameras and sensors rather than maps. Doing so more reliably accounts for local variances such as traffic and road conditions. Second, it strives to give CI a more human-like understanding of both the vehicle operator and the people around them. Honda wants AI that can understand and act on commands while also making proposals and choices on its own, such as yielding to vehicles changing lanes or dodging branches and potholes.
The end goal is for the AI system to fully oversee driving so that drivers can do something else during the journey. It remains to be seen how autonomous the 0 Series will be at launch and whether owners can truly focus on remote work meetings or watching YouTube cat videos while the vehicle does the heavy lifting. But if nothing else, I give credit to Honda for being ambitious.
An Updated Operating System and Performance Architecture
Overhauling and upgrading the AI in Honda vehicles also requires a rock-solid foundation. A system originally designed for Level 1 and Level 2 autonomy won’t handle the advanced algorithms and learning that the 0 Series will demand. Honda is developing two additional software and hardware technologies to support its AI goals.
ASIMO OS
Back in 2000, Honda introduced a humanoid robot at CES known as ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative MObility). More than 100 units were produced throughout development, achieving goals such as walking, interacting with nearby people, and using their hands for various tasks. Honda decided to stop ASIMO development in 2018, and the robot last appeared in 2022, with the focus officially shifting to remote-controlled robotics.
A quarter-century later, though, Honda is working on an in-house vehicle operating system inspired by its beloved robot. Honda’s development approach on the 0 Series is “Thin, Light, and Wise.” The ASIMO OS will be the core of the “Wise.” This software will use integrated ECU management to oversee both the automated driving technology and infotainment. It will also have over-the-air updates so the AI system, integrated controls, and digital user experience can further grow and develop in real time. ASIMO OS will be added to all Honda 0 Series production models.
SoC Performance
Even in a software-defined vehicle (SDV), you still need good hardware architecture. To this end, Honda is working with Renesas Electronics Corporation on high-performance software-on-chip (SoC) technology that can support the levels of autonomy and mobility it is aiming for. In an agreement announced the day after the Honda 0 Series debuted, the two corporations are developing centralized electronic architecture to manage the different vehicle systems.
In layman’s terms, the Honda 0 Series will require much more processing power than a regular vehicle. However, you also don’t want a huge increase in power consumption, since this would drain the battery and hurt the driving range. To solve this, Honda is attempting to merge multiple engine control units (ECUs) with different functions into a core unit. It is starting with the Renesas Gen 5 R-CAR X5 architecture, and then adding a Honda-developed AI accelerator that is optimized for the ASIMO OS software. The use of chiplet technology will let Honda customize and tailor the experience for different vehicles.
What’s the Timeline for the 0 Series?
The Honda 0 Series will be here before you know it. Production of sedan and SUV models is expected to begin in 2026, with deliveries before the end of the year. Initially, the 0 Series will be exclusive to North America and built in Ohio. Worldwide markets will eventually follow.
Part of me is skeptical of just how much vehicle AI can advance in such a short time. Then again, this technology has been in the pipeline for decades. Honda started work on robotics in 1986, and they’ve had Level 3 tech in Japan since 2021. Given that Honda is known for taking its time and doing things right, I have high hopes. Although the initial AI tech on the Honda 0 Series may not be as massive a leap as some might think, it appears they’re designing it so the tech can advance in the coming years and keep up with further developments.
There are certainly people who will be opposed to the pervasive nature of AI in the Honda 0 Series and other vehicles. Beyond those who hate change, legitimate concerns have been raised about areas such as privacy and data security, how effective the AI is, whether it can hurt situational awareness, and whether it’s ethical to use. However, the next generation of vehicle AI is upon us, and it’s up to us to do our best with it. The only thing to wait on now is whether Honda hits its target production and delivery dates so people can discover whether its new AI technology is all it’s cracked up to be.
