Lex Fridman Podcast

#147 – Dmitri Dolgov: Waymo and the Future of Self-Driving Cars

Dec 20, 2020

Dmitri Dolgov, CTO of Waymo and a key figure in autonomous vehicles since their Google inception, discusses the evolution of self-driving technology. He shares thrilling anecdotes from the DARPA Urban Challenge that laid the groundwork for Waymo. Dolgov dives into the cutting-edge innovations of self-driving hardware and the significance of real-time data processing. He highlights user feedback's role in enhancing the experience of autonomous transport, and reflects on the ethical dilemmas faced in urban settings as technology advances into daily life.

02:28:50

Creator website

Episode guests

Dmitri Dolgov

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Sponsor Spotlight

5min

Nurturing a Passion for Computer Science and Robotics

3min

From Nostalgia to Innovation: A Gaming Journey

9min

The Urban Challenge: Foundations of Autonomous Driving

26min

Advancements in Self-Driving Technology

18min

Enhancing Autonomous Vehicles through User Feedback

8min

Creating Frictionless and Delightful User Experiences

3min

Navigating the Future of Autonomous Transport

25min

10.

Exploring Community Warmth and Autonomous Testing Grounds

2min

11.

Navigating the Future of Self-Driving Technologies

30min

12.

Literature's Impact on Life and Society

12min

13.

The Evolving Meaning of Life: Insights from Robotics and Humanity

6min

Dmitri Dolgov is the CTO of Waymo, an autonomous vehicle company. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Tryolabs: https://tryolabs.com/lex
– Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium
– BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off
– Cash App: https://cash.app/ and use code LexPodcast to get $10

EPISODE LINKS:
Waymo’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/waymo
Waymo’s Website: https://waymo.com

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(07:46) – Computer games
(12:52) – Childhood
(15:24) – Robotics
(16:14) – Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
(18:26) – DARPA Urban Challenge
(28:46) – Waymo origin story
(44:27) – Waymo self-driving hardware
(53:00) – Connected cars
(58:53) – Waymo fully driverless service in Phoenix
(1:03:14) – Getting feedback from riders
(1:11:28) – Creating a product that people love
(1:17:18) – Do self-driving cars need to break the rules like humans do?
(1:24:03) – Waymo Trucks
(1:29:41) – Future of Waymo
(1:42:53) – Role of lidar in autonomous driving
(1:55:53) – Machine learning is essential for autonomous driving
(1:59:55) – Pedestrians
(2:06:32) – Trolley problem
(2:11:00) – Book recommendations
(2:22:26) – Meaning of life

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.