Hyundai invests in MDGo, Israeli AI start-up

Hyundai Motor has invested in MDGo, an Israeli start-up focused on health analysis through artificial intelligence.

In announcing the investment on Monday, the automaker said that the two companies will jointly develop a service that will predict and analyze injuries resulting from accidents.

It did not disclose the investment amount, while adding that Gothenburg, Sweden-based Volvo Cars also invested in MDGo.

The Haifa-based company was established in 2017 and provides medical reports with the use of AI.

Hyundai Motor said MDGo’s AI algorithm processes data from vehicle sensors during a collision and provides a report to first responders and hospitals in real time about the location of a passenger’s injury and its severity.

MDGo is working with insurance companies in Israel to test out its services.

The two companies have been working together since April, developing an algorithm that predicts passenger injuries using Hyundai Motor vehicle collision test data.

“MDGo has AI analysis technology of global standards in terms of vehicle passenger safety,” said Chi Young-cho, Hyundai Motor president.

“Starting with cooperation on emergency medical services, we expect to provide innovative services related to passenger safety, such as health monitoring in the long term through new vehicle technology.”

Hyundai Motor is in the early stages of developing its connected-car business.

The company’s Blue Link service notifies hospitals of the location of a vehicle when its airbags are deployed.

BY CHAE YUN-HWAN [chae.yunhwan@joongang.co.kr]