HÀ NỘI –A system that passively detects whether drivers have drunk too much alcohol to drive, DrunkSense, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology developed by VinAI, has been recognised by the Business Intelligence Group with the '2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards' award.

This accolade highlights DrunkSense’s groundbreaking innovations in automotive AI applications, particularly its advanced approach to preventing drink driving.

This annual international award celebrates organisations, products and individuals leading the way in applying AI to solve real-world challenges. The judging panel praised DrunkSense for being: “A transformative force in road safety,” emphasising its real-time monitoring capabilities and swift intervention mechanisms.

Furthermore, its alignment with upcoming regulations—such as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards in 2027 and the European New Car Assessment Programme (EU NCAP) standards in 2026—demonstrates the technology’s forward-thinking vision and remarkable adaptability to future safety standards.

DrunkSense is the world’s first drink-driving detection technology that operates without a breathalyser. Traditional breath-based detection methods have inherent limitations, such as requiring direct driver interaction and providing only a single-point measurement of blood alcohol concentration.

These constraints can hinder the accurate detection of intoxicated driving and create opportunities for circumvention. DrunkSense addresses these challenges by continuously monitoring driver behaviour, in-car signals and ambient alcohol levels, enabling real-time alerts.

Drivers who are drunk remain one of the leading causes of road fatalities. As traffic safety regulations grow increasingly stringent, AI-driven technologies like DrunkSense are setting new benchmarks for detecting intoxicated driving, contributing to safer roads worldwide.

DrunkSense is part of VinAI’s InteriorSense suite—an advanced collection of in-cabin technologies designed to enhance safety for both drivers and passengers. In testing, the system successfully detected and issued warnings in 70% of cases, highlighting its potential to significantly reduce accidents. — VNS