The Road to Autonomy

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss Waymo’s repricing of the robotaxi market with a $16 billion raise at a $126 billion valuation, Uber’s defensive Myths and Realities earnings supplement, and the launch of a new segment, The Pit Stop.The conversation heats up as Walt and Grayson debate Uber’s claim that autonomous vehicle growth is not a zero-sum game, with Grayson arguing that personal ownership and dedicated autonomous vehicle networks will eat into Uber’s market share while, Walt defends the narrative of total market expansion.While Uber attempts to debunk autonomous vehicle myths, Grayson puts on his inspector hat for the inaugural Pit Stop segment, revealing exclusive details about Waymo’s Miami depot infrastructure, including a depot under construction near the airport and the strategic placement of fleet operations near the Design District.Looking at the broader regulatory landscape, Grayson and Walt analyze recent Senate testimony where Waymo disclosed their use of remote assistance based in the Philippines, a move Walt classifies as an unforced error during a push for a National Autonomous Vehicle Framework.On the Foreign Autonomy Desk, they highlight the Middle East becoming a beachhead for scale with Baidu going driver-out in Dubai and WeRide partnering with Uber, noting the region is likely the only place where US and Chinese robotaxis will coexist for the time being.Episode Chapters0:00 Waymo Raises $16 Billion at a $126bn Valuation2:35 Waymo World Powered by DeepMind6:43 Uber's Myths and Realities29:03 The Pit Stop: The Inspector Goes to Miami39:02 The Pit Stop: Tesla's San Francisco Robotaxi Depot Gets Blocked41:38 AVs Need Clear Rules of the Road U.S. Senate Hearing48:01 Bedrock Robotics Raises $270 million50:28 Foreign Autonomy Desk55:04 Next WeekRecorded on Friday, February 6, 2026--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk are joined by their first-ever guest, David Moss, to discuss his 12,961-mile zero-intervention drive across the country on Tesla FSD, the reality of the Unsupervised Robotaxi rollout in Austin, and the commercial viability of LiDAR sensors in consumer vehicles.The conversation heats up as Walt questions David, a LiDAR LiDAR Salesman on whether the massive data processing requirements of LiDAR could introduce latency, potentially citing a recent Waymo incident involving a child as a case study. David argues that while LiDAR offers theoretical range advantages, the compute wall and cost constraints make it a one-trick pony compared to the scalability of a vision-only stack.While the group debates sensor suites, David shares his on-the-ground experience in Austin, revealing it took 58 attempts to finally secure a ride in a Unsupervised Tesla Robotaxi, and confirmed the fleet is being retrofitted with new cleaning jets for the camera sensors to handle weather occlusion.Looking at the broader robotaxi market, the trio analyzes their Zoox experiences at CES, with David noting the vehicle’s braking was significantly harsher than Waymo or Tesla FSD, while Walt highlights the motion sickness challenges inherent in the vehicle’s carriage-style seating configuration.In Prediction Corner, the group debates the timeline for Tesla removing the safety driver on highways, with David offering a bullish forecast for Memorial Day, while Walt and Grayson take a more conservative stance, predicting a rollout closer to late 2026.Episode Chapters0:00 Coast to Coast Fully Autonomous in a Tesla Model 310:49 The Next Record12:16 FSD Unsupervised in Austin16:16 Waymo Experience on Uber in Austin17:17 Robotaxi Safety Attendants19:44 Unsupervised Robotaxi Service Area21:43 Sensor Cleaning26:05 Robotaxi, No Highways in Austin, Yet32:11 Zoox Las Vegas Experiences37:13 LiDAR48:07 Why AutonomyRecorded on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 --------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dean Foreman, Chief Economist at the Texas Oil and Gas Association joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of global oil markets and the critical intersection of natural gas and artificial intelligence.With sanctions lifted on Venezuela, the conversation analyzes the flow of heavy crude to the US Gulf Coast, noting the potential need for over $200 billion in investment to restore Venezuela’s production capacity. Dean explains how US refiners are capitalizing on this heavy feedstock while simultaneously navigating a global market where the US has surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia as a leading energy producer.Looking toward the future of energy demand, the discussion identifies natural gas as a stabilizing force for the power grid, essential for supporting the exponential growth of data centers and generative AI. By co-locating power generation with data infrastructure in West Texas, the industry is leveraging record efficiencies to fuel The Road to Autonomy and ensure long-term economic resilience.Episode Chapters0:00 Venezuela7:25 Increasing Global Demand for Oil9:08 Petroleum Byproducts11:39 Oil and Natural Gas Exports13:40 Permian Basin16:11 Infrastructure Buildout22:11 Oil and Natural Gas Impact on Texas’ Economy25:01 Automation & AI27:52 U.S. Consumer34:00 Next QuarterRecorded on Tuesday, January 20, 2026--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss Waymo’s LiDAR controversy following an incident in a Santa Monica school zone, the potential of a mega merger between Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, and Waabi’s $750 million capital raise to pivot into robotaxis.The conversation heats up as Walt and Grayson debate the efficacy of LiDAR versus camera-only approaches, questioning if sensor fusion latency contributed to the Waymo incident where a child ran out from behind a vehicle.While Waymo handles the incident in Santa Monica, Tesla is further accelerating their shift to an autonomy/robotics company by shutting down Model S and Model X lines for Optimus Gen 3 humanoids.Looking at the broader market, Grayson and Walt analyze Waabi’s strategic expansion from trucking into robotaxis, with Walt drawing parallels to early industry pivots and Grayson questioning the viability of managing two distinct autonomy programs.On the Foreign Autonomy Desk, they highlight Waymo’s recent launch party in London, noting the imported vehicles still feature American driving configurations, and discuss Pony.ai’s partnership to deploy 3,000 robotaxis in mainland China.Episode Chapters0:00 Waymo Opens SFO Airport Access5:45 Waymo’s Santa Monica Incident16:27 Tesla Earnings and New Robotaxi Markets22:04 David Moss’ Austin Robotaxi Adventures24:12 Robotaxi’s Enhanced Camera Cleaning System26:38 Inspector Uncovers, Walt Warns27:43 The Potential Great Elon Merger30:35 Waabi Raises $750m, Pivots to Robotaxis39:27 Does Uber Reboot ATG?42:55 Plus AI Analyst Day50:01 Foreign Autonomy Desk53:18 Next WeekRecorded on Friday, January 30, 2026--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Liu, CEO of PlusAI joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discus taking the company public and their strategic roadmap for commercializing autonomous trucking.As Plus AI prepares to complete their merger with Churchill Capital Corp IX in early February, the conversation explores the shift from fleet trials to an asset-light software model that empowers Traton to build factory-integrated autonomous trucks powered by the Plus virtual driver. By training a single AI driver on a vast, globally diverse dataset, encompassing conditions from snowy Sweden to the Texas Triangle, Plus AI is developing a scalable technology stack designed to safely automate the global freight industry, as the company targets a 2027 commercial launch. Episode Chapters0:00 Going Public1:33 Fleet Trials6:01 Driver-Out Decision7:56 Traton Partnership11:27 Redundant Chassis14:01 Public Milestones16:43 Asset Ownership18:14 Expanding in Spain and Japan23:00 Real-world Driving Data26:16 Simulation27:43 Alpha Data29:02 Traton R&D Investment33:01 What to Watch For as PlusAI Goes PublicRecorded on Friday, January 23, 2026--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss Tesla officially removing safety attendants from Robotaxis in Austin, Waymo’s commercial launch in Miami, and Serve Robotics’ strategic acquisition of Diligent Robotics.It finally happened. Tesla has removed safety attendants from a select group of vehicles in Austin. While this initial fleet is limited and operating in a specific geofence and utilizing chase cars, Grayson and Walt view this as a critical validation of the technology. Looking ahead, Grayson predicts the operational domain will expand significantly in Austin over the next 60 days, with the Phoenix metro region slated as the next target market for deployment. As Tesla went safety attendant-out, Waymoopened the Miami market for limited commercial service within a 60-square-mile area, with one major caveat, no Miami Beach. On the Foreign Autonomy Desk, Grayson and Walt discuss Geely’s plan to deploy 100,000 methanol-powered robotaxis in China and the South Korean government’s selection of Gwangju as the nation’s first dedicated autonomous vehicle testing zone.Episode Chapters0:00 Tesla Removes Safety Attendant in Austin 9:19 Operational Efficiency 10:33 Alex Roy Goes Coast-to-Coast with Zero FSD Interventions 14:15 Drive on FSD, Get a Discount 18:25 FSD is Expanding as Prices are Increasing 23:31 New Robotaxi Markets 24:53 Waymo Launches Miami Markets28:33 Vandalizing Waymo's32:20 Serve Robotics Acquires Diligent Robotics36:41 Foreign Autonomy Desk 39:21 Next WeekRecorded on Friday, January 23, 2026 --------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this engaging discussion, Sergey Litvinenko, Co-founder and CEO of Koop, shares insights on the future of insuring autonomous vehicle fleets. He highlights how Tesla’s Cybercab rollout in 2026 could transform personal ownership into LLC-operated fleets. Sergey elaborates on using real-world behavior data for underwriting, moving away from traditional metrics. He also explores liability dynamics in a driverless world and predicts a robust insurance market tailored for the autonomy economy, paving the way for efficient fleet management and risk assessment.

The discussion kicks off with New York's attempt to legalize autonomous vehicles while carving out NYC, highlighting Mayor Mondami's focus on taxi drivers. In Texas, Waymo expands its coverage in Austin and Uber tweaks its promotional language regarding robotaxis. The hosts explore Waymo's plans for Sydney and the WeRide integration with WeChat in China. A debate emerges over Waymo's shift to vehicles with fewer sensors, and Tesla's move to subscription-only FSD prompts thoughts on revenue. Global developments and future implications of autonomy capture the conversation.

Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak, shares insights on the company’s journey toward autonomy and its recent public offering. He reveals Kodiak's innovative asset-light model, where partners like Atlas operate trucks, allowing a focus on AI development. They discuss strategic partnerships, notably with Bosch, to create a redundant, OEM-agnostic platform. Don emphasizes the importance of long-term vision in technology validation and highlights plans for upcoming driverless operations. He foresees a future of Kodiak as a leader in physical AI, expanding beyond trucking.

This week on Autonomy Markets, Grayson Brulte and Walter Piecyk discuss CES 2026, Zoox’s performance on the Las Vegas Strip and Uber’s potential long-term autonomy plans. Zoox’s performance was one of those hopefully “only in Las Vegas” moments, as the vehicle was seen stopping in the middle of traffic and blocking entrances on a regular basis. Which raises the question; what is Amazon going to do with Zoox? Do they overhaul management, make an acquisition, or simply shut it down and move on? While Zoox struggled, NVIDIA introduced their open-source Alpamayo AI models under an Apache 2.0 license to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicles and sell more GPUs. Closing out the show, the discussion shifts to hardware and global expansion, contrasting Waymo’s bulky new Ojai vehicle with the well-designed Lucid-Nuro robotaxi.Episode Chapters0:00 CES 20262:13 Zoox CES Experience 8:41 NVIDIA’s CES Announcements 12:45 SAE Level 216:59 Waymo Ojai19:31 Lucid / Nuro Robotaxi21:29 Does Uber Need to Vertically Integrate Autonomy in the Future?25:05 Waymo / Uber Relationship27:37 Tensor Auto 32:49 Foreign Autonomy Desk34:35 Disgrace of The Week38:24 Next WeekRecorded on Friday, January 9, 2026--------About The Road to AutonomyThe Road to Autonomy provides market intelligence and strategic advisory services to institutional investors and companies, delivering insights needed to stay ahead of emerging trends in the autonomy economy™. To learn more, say hello (at) roadtoautonomy.com.Sign up for This Week in The Autonomy Economy newsletter: https://www.roadtoautonomy.com/ae/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.