Inside a Driverless Ride with Waymo's Chief Product Officer

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  • čas přidán 6. 05. 2024
  • Self-driving cars have been on the horizon for quite some time. But, they might actually be here.
    We got to ride around in one all over San Francisco with Waymo’s Chief Product Officer, Saswat Panigrahi.
    We discussed so much, including the five levels of autonomy, the infamous LIDAR vs video debate, regulation, UX, and the role of AI in fine-tuning these models. But most importantly, if autonomy is here… now what?!
    Topics Covered:
    00:00 - A first look at Waymo
    02:06 - 5 levels of autonomy
    04:20 - Technology challenges
    06:55 - The technology behind Waymo
    11:58 - LiDAR vs video debate
    16:21 - How Waymo differentiates
    19:01 - Technological unlocks on the horizon
    21:26 - The role of AI in autonomous vehicles
    24:17 - How Waymo views safety
    31:25 - Collaborating with regulators
    37:12 - Learnings from the first 2m miles
    39:48 - Driving user retention
    44:16 - Waymo’s expansion strategy
    47:55 - Changing regulation
    48:42 - Societal unlocks enabled by autonomy
    53:47 - Will self-driving cars replace humans?
    54:26 - Closing thoughts
    Resources:
    Check out Waymo: waymo.com/
    Check out Waymo’s CZcams channel: / @waymo
    Find Saswat on Twitter: / saswat101
    Check out a16z's 8-part series on the autonomous vehicle ecosystem: a16z.com/2018/02/03/autonomy-...
    Find a16z on Twitter: / a16z
    Find a16z on LinkedIn: / a16z
    Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: a16z.simplecast.com/
    Follow our host: / stephsmithio
    Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 70

  • @a16z
    @a16z  Před 10 měsíci +5

    Topics Covered:
    00:00 - A first look at Waymo
    02:06 - "5 levels of autonomy
    04:20 - Technology challenges
    06:55 - The technology behind Waymo
    11:58 - LiDAR vs video debate
    16:21 - How Waymo differentiates
    19:01 - Technological unlocks on the horizon
    21:26 - The role of AI in autonomous vehicles
    24:17 - How Waymo views safety
    31:25 - Collaborating with regulators
    37:12 - Learnings from the first 2m miles
    39:48 - Driving user retention
    44:16 - Waymo’s expansion strategy
    47:55 - Changing regulation
    48:42 - Societal unlocks enabled by autonomy
    53:47 - Will self-driving cars replace humans?
    54:26 - Closing thoughts

  • @StephSmithio
    @StephSmithio Před 10 měsíci +33

    As I said at the end of the video, this was a really special experience for me after waiting a decade+ to get my license. Still a long way to go, but I feel very lucky that we live in an era where these are coming online. What a time to be alive!

    • @wemba
      @wemba Před 10 měsíci +2

      Do you plan to test out a Cruise vehicle as well? I love the naming of the vehicles

  • @a16z
    @a16z  Před 10 měsíci +13

    Would you ride in an autonomous vehicle? Why or why not?

    • @wemba
      @wemba Před 10 měsíci

      Hell yeah! Still waiting to get off the waitlist for Cruise in SF

    • @mhuwe
      @mhuwe Před 10 měsíci +1

      Definitely! I can’t wait until I don’t have to drive anymore. I don’t even care what it looks like. Just give me a box with a small desk and a chair. Happy to let the car do the driving!

    • @bodynutrition201
      @bodynutrition201 Před 10 měsíci

      When can I buy this. This would be great for taking kids to school and making deliveries

    • @cweed
      @cweed Před 10 měsíci

      Yes, I want this now!

  • @robertopena6621
    @robertopena6621 Před 10 měsíci +19

    Waymo is the only autonomous driving experience I’d feel comfortable sleeping 💤 in the backseat

  • @manp1039
    @manp1039 Před 2 měsíci

    really good interview.. I found this after my search for more info about Waymo after the attack and destruction by a mob in SF a couple days ago.

  • @dbasumallik1322
    @dbasumallik1322 Před 15 dny

    Mind Blowing, never thought I would see this in my life time

  • @andrewmoncada2712
    @andrewmoncada2712 Před 10 měsíci +5

    She’s a great interviewer

  • @Native722
    @Native722 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Waymo's self driving is more refined that Cruise's. Cruise plays it too safe, you think that's a good thing but it's actually hurting them.

  • @ichiyama898
    @ichiyama898 Před 10 měsíci +3

    Although there is strong psychological resistance for the general public, driver shortages and improvement of the working environment are urgent issues in truck logistics.

  • @TheDiplomat27
    @TheDiplomat27 Před 10 měsíci +4

    This was a great interview. Lots of cool info. And the driving was very good too.

  • @tuck1s
    @tuck1s Před 10 měsíci

    Great progress! Love to see how this is developing - and 👋 hi Saswat! Hope you are well!

  • @judevector
    @judevector Před 10 měsíci +1

    This is mind blowing

  • @pranavmarla
    @pranavmarla Před 10 měsíci +1

    This was extremely informative. I wonder how long it would take until we can get a consumer version of this? I eagerly wait for the time when I don't have to drive myself anywhere.

  • @jon-kl9mk
    @jon-kl9mk Před měsícem

    I can see having more of these cars will be less accidents!

  • @damnimloomin
    @damnimloomin Před 8 měsíci

    You should have asked what their strategy would be for expanding to rural areas and highway driving, and if they ultimately want to do longer inter city journeys.

  • @jbrum1000
    @jbrum1000 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Where does it go after they drop you off just wondering about that where does it go cuz it has to pay for parking until its next assignment or does it just drives around until its next assignment

  • @paulvarcoe8536
    @paulvarcoe8536 Před 10 měsíci

    Wonderful!

  • @davidignatiusanyaeche8101
    @davidignatiusanyaeche8101 Před 7 měsíci

    This is great episode. really interesting how AVs will truly transform how cities are architectured, managed, and grow.

  • @Reddylion
    @Reddylion Před 10 měsíci +1

    Intresting

  • @yannisk7
    @yannisk7 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Incredible. We owe it to humanity and to ourselves to provide safer mobility options. The needless loss of life due to human overconfidence and negligence behind the wheel is an open wound for society, and technology will again provide for a better future. Excited!

  • @blcsfo
    @blcsfo Před 9 měsíci +1

    China has had functioning driverless taxi in Shenzhen for over two years now.

    • @brentschmogbert
      @brentschmogbert Před měsícem +1

      They also have concentration camps for Uyghurs for many years now

  • @5Gazto
    @5Gazto Před 8 měsíci +1

    21:17, wait, the light was red for the Waymo car not the guy on the scooter, why did the Waymo manager say that the guy ignored the red light?

    • @ArielChelsau
      @ArielChelsau Před 4 měsíci

      I believe the light didn't turn green yet for the scooter. But for all we saw, Waymo ignored the fact that the first lane was empty, stopped behind that vehicle making a left on a yellow light and then proceeded on red. I'm not saying it was wrong it went through even though it was red, I'm saying that the proper, human thing, to do would have been to go around that vehicle from the front on the right lane. At least that's the standard behaviour where I live.

  • @lucilaci
    @lucilaci Před 6 měsíci

    Very cool, i want it in my Country! If only he would answer more of her auestrions directly...

  • @wemba
    @wemba Před 10 měsíci

    Started off in the Outer Sunset! I think I saw my house hehe

  • @jbrum1000
    @jbrum1000 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Ownership ownership ownership or maybe some sort of membership or subscription in the future where you don't even own the car you just share the car per say in the form of a membership subscription I live in the West Palm Beach area which is 30 minutes away from the Miami area where he tested the waymo for rain and we get a lot of rain here yes

  • @jbrum1000
    @jbrum1000 Před 9 měsíci +1

    How well does it perform in the dark evening

  • @topofthegreen
    @topofthegreen Před 10 měsíci

    I wish this was in Nashville e Tennessee.

  • @bodynutrition201
    @bodynutrition201 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Bring this to Tampa bay!

  • @madankd
    @madankd Před 10 měsíci

    Great tech man

  • @user-sg2fw6ze7n
    @user-sg2fw6ze7n Před 8 měsíci

    더 많은 유명한 유튜버들 다 초대해서 자율주행 타야됨. 미스터 비스트랑 세계 1위 2위 3위 4위 5위 유튜버들 다 모아서 다 타고 유튜브 올리라고해야됨. 자율주행만으로 미국 횡단하기 이런거 해봐야됨.

  • @jimmyp1433
    @jimmyp1433 Před 9 měsíci

    is it just me or is half this video seem like its running at a nauseating 10fps

  • @jbrum1000
    @jbrum1000 Před 9 měsíci

    No more drunk driving no more no more drivers license no more tickets speeding that is no more registration no more car repairs the list goes on

  • @kuntal15
    @kuntal15 Před 7 měsíci

    Most of the human drivers only take defensive driving courses after getting traffic violation tickets or similar events. Majority of the human drivers today aren't safe drivers, often distracted and prone to making numerous mistakes. Imagine a world where everyone is a defensive, safe and polite driver! Well, that world may not happen in our lifetime, but the way Waymo is training its AI stack, that dream may come true sooner. The only problem I see in Waymo's strategy is the sheer number of sensors overloading the vehicle. This strategy is rather a brute force one. The cost and aesthetics are huge factors to make this technology ubiquitous, affordable and accessible to all.

  • @drharishkrishnappa4087
    @drharishkrishnappa4087 Před 8 měsíci

  • @jbrum1000
    @jbrum1000 Před 9 měsíci

    It seems every time you get behind the wheel you'll have to drive for other drivers per say I hope this technology comes to the West Palm Beach area soon would love to have the experience nma no more accidents nmt no more tickets nmd d no more drunk driving

  • @miles5600
    @miles5600 Před 9 měsíci

    so what do they actually wanna achieve with this?

  • @jmsaltzman
    @jmsaltzman Před 10 měsíci +2

    Aside for poor road conditions and bad weather, I think there will be unforeseen circumstances that will reveal that not having a (human) driver can be dangerous in ways that are not being discussed.

    • @krause79
      @krause79 Před 10 měsíci +5

      The opposite might be happening, without humans driving you are removing reckless drives, drunk , rage drivers, falling asleep, etc.

    • @kevinc721
      @kevinc721 Před 9 měsíci +1

      Like what, why don’t you actually try and be specific

  • @Innovate-pq9ci
    @Innovate-pq9ci Před 10 měsíci +3

    You should learn how to place your seatbelt. This configuration would result in major injuries.

    • @wemba
      @wemba Před 10 měsíci +2

      Steph explained on Twitter that the normal seatbelt position was messing with the microphone she was wearing, and that’s the only reason she was wearing it that way.

    • @StephSmithio
      @StephSmithio Před 10 měsíci

      ⁠@@wembayes! Thanks for clarifying here. You can see early on how I typically put it on and how the mic was getting twisted in it (see 3:27)

  • @zimpreneur
    @zimpreneur Před 10 měsíci +1

    Cool to see. It feels like they are both talking past each other and not really listening to the other. The chicken-necking to see whats going on and all the yeah, yeahs made it very distracting and chaotic.

  • @onlybryanliu
    @onlybryanliu Před 10 měsíci

    hows it gonna fare against Tesla?

    • @zlonewolf
      @zlonewolf Před 10 měsíci +1

      Tesla FSD is still in beta...since 2012.🤣

    • @nikhilrodye8226
      @nikhilrodye8226 Před 10 měsíci

      tesla will get religion of lidar

    • @JPP108
      @JPP108 Před 10 měsíci

      Without lidar Tesla will never get to Level 4, will be stuck in Level 2

    • @_____case
      @_____case Před 8 měsíci

      ​@@JPP108I think they'll eventually get to L4 without lidar. Might be 3-5 more years.

  • @noel3422
    @noel3422 Před 2 měsíci

    Honestly I feel if the government is going to allow ai cars to be on the road with human drivers, as a human driver I feel a need to have knowledge of every route any ai car takes so I can take another route, during your many years of testing since human and ai do not mix, ai cars cannot know all the stupid crap that happens with human drivers and as a human I do not want to take part in your test.

  • @jbrum1000
    @jbrum1000 Před 9 měsíci

    It seems much much much safer than human driving buy my own personal experience in life

  • @alanvonweltin6820
    @alanvonweltin6820 Před 10 měsíci +3

    This video has metric tons of kool-aid just sloshing around everywhere

  • @OwenRULESSS
    @OwenRULESSS Před 10 měsíci +1

    I feel like this was way too high level to be useful. Didn’t really answer the key question in the title (of the Spotify podcast at least)

  • @J5L5M6
    @J5L5M6 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Haven't you all been investing in autonomous mobility projects for just shy of a decade? The PR team would benefit the firm by dropping a tad more effort than this propaganda...

  • @flech3025
    @flech3025 Před 10 měsíci +5

    These cars have repeatedly proven they are unable to do basic problem solving like navigate around road closures. These cars are dangerous, they are making traffic worse and they should not be driving around without a person at the wheel.

    • @StephSmithio
      @StephSmithio Před 10 měsíci +12

      You should check out 55:38. :)

    • @flech3025
      @flech3025 Před 10 měsíci

      @@StephSmithio czcams.com/video/XWNP4HDW5lc/video.html&ab_channel=ABC7NewsBayArea
      czcams.com/video/NdN59dXUtLs/video.html&ab_channel=ABC7NewsBayArea

    • @kevinc721
      @kevinc721 Před 9 měsíci

      Clearly don’t know what your talking about

  • @Katana_00
    @Katana_00 Před 10 měsíci

    Don’t care.