Vincent Vanhoucke’s Post

Waymo expands to LA tomorrow (https://lnkd.in/g4AF4H-5), while Automotive News titles “Self-driving industry struggles as DARPA race anniversary nears” (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnGQt0). I disagree with Automotive News. Background ☑️ Inventions take a long time from R&D into safety-critical products: Take ESC (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnD2z0) as an example: Developed in the 1980s, the system had only little market penetration by the 1990s. In the 2000s, regulators had collected data to show its usefulness. In the 2010s, ESP became mandatory for all new vehicles in the US and EU in 2012 and 2014. Now, in the 2020s, it has reached over 80% market penetration. 50 years after invention, it’ll be more than 90 percent. #Autonomousdriving has come a long way already ☑️ Ever since I started to work on autonomous vehicles in 1997, I have been saying that “autonomous driving is always 20 years out.” ☑️ In the 1990s, the EU project Prometheus (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnzsS0) set the foundation for driver assistance systems, which launched around 2000 (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnwDg0) ☑️ In 2000, we managed to automate test driving on Volkswagen’s test track. (I was responsible for data fusion) ☑️ In 2004, the first DARPA Grand Challenge in 2004, the best vehicle completed just 7 of 150 miles (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnGPs0) ☑️ In 2005, 5 vehicles managed to complete a similar course, driving autonomously 132 miles through the Mojave desert. (We, Stanford University won, https://hubs.ly/Q02pnyMX0) ☑️ In 2007, 6 vehicles completed the 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge (Carnegie Mellon University won, https://hubs.ly/Q02pnNlh0) ☑️ Google started Project Chauffeur in 2008, revealed its existence in 2010, by 2015 had driven 1 million and 20 million by 2020. In 2022, Waymo started offering rides in SF (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnGQv0) and just got approval to expand to the Bay Area and LA (https://hubs.ly/Q02pnzVV0). This is their opportunity to scale. Yes, ☑️ productizing self-driving is a monumental task, especially in getting the safety aspect right. ☑️ Yes, we (i.e. domain experts) knew all along that it would take a long time. ☑️ Yes, people in the 2015s overpromised millions of robotaxis within 5 years. ☑️ Yes, some pushback was to be expected. ☑️ And yes, it requires a lot of funding, and some companies run out of funding. But that does not mean the whole industry struggles. Instead, ☑️ a value chain has formed around autonomous driving: Machine learning-based perception, teleoperation, labeling, real-time operating systems (e.g. BlackBerry QNX), SDKs (Apex.AI), vehicle operators (MOIA) are available and speed up development and deployment. ☑️ Today, Waymo is leading autonomous driving, currently in San Francisco and Phoenix and expanding down the Silicon Valley and to LA tomorrow. Summary ☑️ The self-driving industry is making constant progress. But it takes more time than the public expected.

🚘✨ Experiencing the Future: My First Waymo Ride! 🌱🌟 When my aunt visited from Copenhagen, I wanted to give her a unique San Francisco experience—something that captures the essence of innovation. What better way than a ride into the future? We booked a Waymo, and the look on her face when the electric, driverless JLR I-PACE arrived was priceless! "Is this really happening or am I in a scene from Minority Report?” she whispered, squeezing my hand as we stepped up to the car. That blend of excitement and nervousness summed up my own emotions perfectly. With a quick app tap, I unlocked our ride and even queued up my playlist—because futuristic tech deserves a soundtrack! 🎵 What amazed me most was how fast the initial "wow, this is sci-fi!" moment transformed into the ordinary. In minutes, we were discussing lunch plans as our autonomous car navigated the city with ease. It reminded me of what someone once said: "For the first few minutes, there's a rush of excitement. But soon, people just relax into it." As a high school student passionate about tech and sustainability, this ride was more than a cool experience; it was a vision of what's possible. Looking back at my photos and videos 📸, I don’t just see a driverless car; I see a bridge connecting generations, cultures, and endless possibilities. Would you trust a driverless car for your next adventure? 🤔 #Waymo #Innovation #FutureOfTransport #SustainableTech #StudentPerspective #SanFrancisco #TechExperience #AI #NextGeneration

Waymo (owned by behemoth Alphabet Inc.) has grown from 100k to 150k weekly paid trips over the past 2 months. Although only a super tiny fraction of all car trips globally (several tens of billions), the annual growth rate is massive (~700%) and they’re doing promising partnerships with both platforms (Uber) and car makers (Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo Cars, etc.). In just a few years, they’ll likely have millions of weekly trips. As will other autonomous mobility providers (Tesla, Amazon, etc.). Both the S-curve adoption rate of autonomy and the economic ripple effect will be so much stronger than most people think. Part of the reason will be that a lot of folks want to skip personal car ownership as they don’t ”have to” own a car anymore, it’ll become a streaming service. Also because cars (vans) will become mobile shopping stores with much better cost-efficiency and higher revenues vs. regular stores, and enable the sharing economy (which currently is not working). Autonomy is a big deal, as it could completely redraw both mobility and retail from their cores. Alphabet seems quite well positioned. _ #Waymo #autonomousvehicles

Waymo 🤖 🚘 has closed funding round of $5.6 billion, led by Alphabet Inc., with continued participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, Perry Creek Capital, Silver Lake, Tiger Global Management, and T. Rowe Price. The new funding round bringing #Waymo valuation to an estimated $30 billion. #Waymo has raised $2.25 billion in 2020 and $2.5 billion in 2021. However, the valuation has not changed owing to rising operating cost. It currently completes 100,000 robotaxi rides each week, operating its autonomous vehicle services primarily in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Waymo’s valuation could potentially rise to $50 billion or more in the next few years, particularly if it scales to additional cities and increases its service frequency. #autonomous #robotaxi #autonomousvehicles https://lnkd.in/gCYf5z5c https://lnkd.in/ggYURXzk

Cruising to the club in a Waymo robotaxi last Friday night was more than just a fun ride – it was a glimpse into the future of AI-powered transportation. No driver, no worries, just smooth autonomous navigation and a surprisingly friendly AI voice assistant! 🤖🎶 Video Link: https://lnkd.in/gsxzYUr7 But the real mind-blower? Waymo's tech isn't just about convenience; it could be a stepping stone towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Here's why: Complex Decision-Making: Navigating traffic, pedestrians, and unexpected events requires sophisticated real-time decision-making, a key component of AGI. Perception and Prediction: Waymo's sensor suite and AI algorithms enable it to perceive and predict the behavior of other road users, mimicking human-like understanding of the environment. Continuous Learning: Waymo's AI is constantly learning and improving from every mile driven, showcasing the adaptability and iterative learning that AGI aims to achieve. While Waymo isn't explicitly building AGI, the technology behind their self-driving cars could provide valuable insights and building blocks for future AGI development. Food for Thought: Could the challenges Waymo overcomes in autonomous driving (like navigating unpredictable scenarios) inform AGI research? What other real-world applications of AI could accelerate our path towards AGI? Are self-driving cars a stepping stone, or just a fascinating sideshow, in the grand scheme of AGI? Let's discuss in the comments! 👇 #Waymo #SelfDrivingCars #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AGI #MachineLearning #Robotics #FutureofTransportation #Innovation

These numbers show the scale and growth that Waymo is hitting! 🚀 This is why it’s valued at a mind boggling $45+ billion! Go back to Waymo’s mission ⭐and it’s really delivering 🎯 (reduce road deaths caused by human error/improve road safety and mobility; reclaim time wasted in traffic; make everyday destinations accessible for people who can’t drive.) 📈 Waymo's Growth: Hitting 150k paid rides (and 1M fully autonomous miles) A WEEK! (Remember, Waymo already doubled its trips to 100k per week in just over three months in August.) 🏙️ Service Expansion: Expanded service areas in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. And importantly, curbside service at Sky Harbor International Airport. ✈️ 🛟 Safety Record: Waymo Driver was **3.5 times better at avoiding crashes causing injuries** and **3 times better at avoiding police-reported crashes** compared to human drivers. 💪 Released its 6th-generation Waymo Driver system, which is cheaper, faster to develop, and handles extreme weather better. Future Plans: 🚕 In an interesting partnership with Uber, Waymo plans to serve riders in Austin and Atlanta starting in 2025. 🚘 Adding to the 700 Jaguar iPace cars, Waymo is testing Zeekr custom-designed robotaxis in California.

#TALKtoAlpion it could be simpler we offer #EmployeeSELFservice #Kiosk integrations #TheBenefits : 🖥️ Convenience and time-saving benefits of self-service technology. 🖥️ Reduction in labor costs through self-service technology. 🖥️ Simple empowerment, informative. 🖥️ Capturing valuable data through self-service technology.

Waymo begins offering robotaxi rides on San Francisco freeways to employees by Tim Fang via Home - CBS San Francisco ([Global] autonomous oracle) URL: https://ift.tt/URTPwBS Less than one week after expanding robotaxi service outside San Francisco, Waymo announced that its autonomous vehicles will begin using the city's freeways. The company announced on social media on Monday that the company's employees can take trips using freeways, following successful tests in Arizona. "After successful testing of our autonomous vehicles on Phoenix freeways, we're expanding our operations. Starting today, our employees will also have access to fully autonomous rides on San Francisco freeways," Waymo posted on X (formerly Twitter). After successful testing of our autonomous vehicles on Phoenix freeways, we're expanding our operations. Starting today, our employees will also have access to fully autonomous rides on San Francisco freeways. pic.twitter.com/DzGdEgkm1U — Waymo (@Waymo) August 12, 2024 In its post, the company touted significant time savings on a hyopthetical ride between Lake Merced and Oracle Park. Last week, Waymo announced the company would begin offering robotaxi rides beyond San Francisco to the Peninsula communities of Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma. In total, the company covers 55 square miles in the region. The move has been met with some opposition to leaders in San Mateo County, who said Waymo gave them little notice. Leaders on the Peninsula are backing a measure that would let local governments regulate autonomous vehicles. The company did not say when freeway trips would be offered to the public. CBS News Bay Area has reached out to Waymo for comment.

After a long hiatus, I'm excited to share my first newsletter! 🎉 Breaking down the unexpected Waymo-Uber partnership: - Former rivals join forces in autonomous ride-hailing - Uber gets AV tech, Waymo gains massive user base - Both face risks & regulatory challenges What does this mean for the future of transportation? Check out the full analysis in my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gQHPTKeh

🚗 Human Drivers vs. AI: The Edge of Experience and Intuition 🧠🤖 While AI-powered driving technology has made incredible strides, there's still an argument for why human driving has unique advantages. Human drivers bring a level of intuition, adaptability, and emotional intelligence that AI can’t fully replicate yet. From instinctive hazard detection to the ability to quickly assess unique road situations, humans possess skills that go beyond data processing. While AI is improving, humans excel in complex, unpredictable situations—an edge that may keep us in the driver’s seat for some time. 🚘✨ #Driving #AIDriving #HumanIntelligence #AutonomousVehicles #RoadSafety #FutureOfDriving #TechVsHuman