Mitsubishi Electric Develops AI to Detect Drunk Driving Through Facial Analysis

Major Japanese electronics manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of determining whether a driver is intoxicated using facial images and other behavioral indicators captured by an in-vehicle camera, Mainichi Japan reported, citing journalist Yin Tanaka.

The system could trigger safety responses, such as issuing warnings or stopping the vehicle, if the AI detects signs of intoxication based on real-time footage. (Photo: Mitsubishi Electric)

The company plans to collaborate with automakers to integrate the technology into vehicles.

The system could trigger safety responses, such as issuing warnings or stopping the vehicle, if the AI detects signs of intoxication based on real-time footage. Mitsubishi Electric is targeting early commercialization of the technology.

Data from the National Police Agency shows that 125 fatal accidents in Japan were attributed to drunk driving in 2025, down by 15 from the previous year. However, the fatality rate for drunk driving incidents remains significantly higher—approximately 7.1 times—than that for sober driving.

In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that more than 12,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2023.