Autonocast

They unpack Wayve’s huge $1.2B raise and its hardware-agnostic licensing play with OEM pilots. Discussion covers Uber aiming to be the global operations layer for robo-taxis and delivery. A heated debate over remote operations explores congressional scrutiny, operator-to-vehicle ratios, and whether human intervention counts as driving. Investment dynamics with NVIDIA and industry optics also come up.

Zach Greenberger, CEO of Nexar — an edge-AI leader building massive real-world driving datasets — explains why real-world data is essential for autonomous vehicles. He describes Nexar’s scale, how rare edge cases are flagged and enriched, differences between fleet and crowdsourced data, and how simulation and multimodal world models complement real driving data.

Alex recounts his latest cross-country Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) attempt and explains why “zero-disengagement” claims often hide major differences in what counts as an intervention—plus an unforgettable moment where the car nearly strands a co-driver at a sub-zero truck stop. Kirsten, Ed & Alex then dig into Tesla’s decision to end Model S and Model X production, the company’s escalating bet on Optimus humanoid robots, and growing signals of deeper alignment with xAI (and even potential mega-merger vibes with SpaceX). Plus the latest Waymo controversy after a robotaxi struck a child in Santa Monica, the investigations and media narrative battle, and what these incidents mean for public trust in autonomous vehicles.

They debrief CES trends, noting automakers pulling back while Chinese OEMs and industrial tech expand. A wild Cybertruck driving story raises questions about perceived autonomy performance. A hands-on Motional robotaxi ride through tricky Vegas streets gets high marks for reliability. Wild party logistics and a door drama involving a surprise celebrity add colorful behind-the-scenes chaos.

David Moss joins Alex Roy and Ed Niedermeyer to discuss his zero intervention coast-to-coast Tesla FSD drive. Alex is excited. Ed less so, until the end.

Avery Ash, CEO of Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), dives into energy security and transportation policy. He reviews last year's predictions, discussing Tesla's FSD challenges and EV market dynamics. Avery highlights the risks posed by Chinese competition and the need for a domestic supply chain. Predictions for 2026 include evolving AV regulations and the impact of AI on vehicle definition. He also addresses data privacy concerns with foreign-made vehicles and the implications for US-China relations in the automotive sector.

Waymo's scaling brings both exciting possibilities and unique challenges, especially when it comes to edge cases for their robotaxi fleet. The hosts delve into a bizarre incident where a passenger gave birth during a ride. They also discuss Waymo's transparency issues regarding safety incidents and the implications of their upcoming IPO. Meanwhile, Rivian's autonomy ambitions spark debates on product definition and consumer expectations. The conversation highlights how Waymo's leadership could set industry standards for future autonomous vehicle deployments.

The hosts dive into Waymo's rapid city expansion and its ambitious goal of scaling to one million rides weekly. They debate the political geography affecting AV acceptance and explore potential job creation around autonomous vehicles. Comparing Tesla and Waymo, they critique safety claims and discuss public reactions to AV-related incidents. The conversation touches on the challenges new players face and the future of LiDAR technology. Issues of driver monitoring and management failures also spark lively discussions.

When is self-driving not self-driving? How do the words we use for autonomous vehicles affect safety? Professor Bryant Walker Smith talks about how the SAE levels came to be, how he hopes to improve them, and his latest paper "Self-Driving Means Self-Driving."

Bryan Reimer, a Research Scientist at MIT's AgeLab, dives into the pragmatic side of AI in vehicles. He emphasizes AI as a co-pilot, augmenting human decision-making rather than replacing it. Reimer critiques overly optimistic automation promises, urges a human-centered design in driver assistance, and advocates for clear regulations to dispel misleading claims. He also discusses the economic challenges of scaling robotaxi services and the potential for gamified driver education. Ultimately, he champions a focus on consumer safety and effective implementation over flashy marketing.