KATHMANDU: Chinese autonomous driving startup ZYT is preparing to unveil a new AI-based driving system that its CEO claims can outperform human drivers.
According to Reuters, CEO Shen Shaojie said the system already drives better than him on the busy streets of Shenzhen.
ZYT is a spin-off of Chinese drone maker DJI. The company will showcase its new “mobility foundation model” at the Beijing Auto Show in April.
The system is designed differently from conventional autonomous driving technology. Traditional systems use separate modules to detect vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic signals. They are also trained for specific regions and road conditions.
ZYT’s model works as a single AI system. It learns driving behavior on its own without relying on fixed modules or location-based training.
The AI has been trained using a wide range of data. This includes road driving videos, as well as footage from drones, robots, motorcycles, household devices, and even handheld cameras. According to the company, this allows the system to adapt across different vehicle types and road environments.
ZYT says this approach could also be used in future autonomous robots and smart mobility devices.
The development comes as China pushes to expand AI across industries. The initiative is part of efforts led by Xi Jinping to build new technology-driven economic growth.
At the same time, competition in AI driving is intensifying. Companies like Tesla and Xpeng are also rapidly developing advanced driver-assistance systems. Other competitors include Huawei’s smart driving unit and Momenta.
ZYT is aiming to enter the stock market as early as 2027, targeting a listing in Hong Kong. The company is expanding through partnerships, including in China’s trucking sector. It has also received investment from FAW Group.
Shen said even a six-month lead in this sector is significant due to the fast pace of development.
He added that the new system can handle complex driving situations, including narrow roads with oncoming traffic and areas near schools.
However, the technology also highlights a key challenge. During testing, engineers told Shen that they do not fully understand how the AI makes decisions, showing the growing complexity of advanced driving systems.
