In an effort to bring self-driving cars to the Bay Area on its open platform, Lyft has announced a partnership with Drive.ai, which is a Silicon Valley startup that uses deep learning to create artificial intelligence (AI) software for autonomous vehicles.

​Lyft's open platform provides car manufacturers and self-driving systems the opportunity to plug into Lyft's network of nearly one million rides per day, and get access to an expansive set of real-life scenarios that help partners develop their systems around actual experiences and behaviors.
 
Drive.ai, which recently raised $50 million in its Series B funding round, is developing “retrofit kits that transform traditional vehicles into self-driving models” to bring its technology to the market. The company is no stranger to testing its technology in California, as it was one of the first startups in the state to receive a self-driving vehicle permit.

“Drive.ai and Lyft are both working toward a future where self-driving vehicles radically improve the lives of millions,” says Sameep Tandon, CEO of Drive.ai.

“By launching this pilot, we’re taking a giant step to advance that reality. As we deploy Drive.ai’s safe, intelligent autonomous vehicles on the city streets, we can begin to build public understanding and trust.”

In stages, Lyft and Drive.ai will deploy their first pilots in the Bay area soon.

A Drive.ai trained safety driver will be present in the vehicle during all rides, and any public pilot that is deployed by the companies will be done in “compliance with applicable regulatory requirements set by the DMV and the California PUC.”