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Gill Pratt

Chief Scientist, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Fellow of Toyota Research Institute, Inc., Toyota Motor

Search every verified Gill Pratt interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Gill Pratt, CEO of Toyota Research Institute and Chief Scientist of Toyota Motor Corporation, has continued to advocate for a diversified approach to vehicle electrification and the development of artificial intelligence systems that augment rather than replace human drivers. In a November 2021 leadership talk, Pratt argued that the best strategy for reducing greenhouse gases is to offer a diverse portfolio of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles, stating that "what is best for the average person or for any particular person is not best for every person." He introduced the concept of "carbon return on investment" (CROI), suggesting that distributing battery resources across multiple plug-in hybrid vehicles can achieve greater net carbon reduction than concentrating them in a single long-range battery electric vehicle. At a JAMA G7 event in November 2023, Pratt reiterated this theme, warning that policies that over-constrain the types of powertrains customers can buy may lead to higher net emissions if customers hold on to older, less efficient vehicles. In the area of vehicle automation, Pratt has continued to promote Toyota's "Guardian" concept, which he describes as a safety system that works in parallel with a human driver rather than replacing them. At a 2022 presentation on autonomous drifting with a GR Yaris, Pratt explained that the goal is to use AI to prevent crashes and teach drivers to drive better, emphasizing that "this is not a human versus machine competition" but rather "human plus machine technology." He has also discussed the application of AI to robotics and manufacturing, including the concept of "flink learning" where machines can share learned skills globally, and has stated that the purpose of automation is "to amplify human labor" rather than replace it. Pratt has described Toyota's broader mission as shifting from a mass producer of cars to a "mass producer of happiness," with a focus on improving quality of life through technology.

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