On with Kara Swisher The Man Making Self-Driving Trucks
Jun 5, 2023
In this conversation, Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO of Aurora, shares insights from his journey building self-driving technology, including leading Google's autonomous vehicle project. He discusses the upcoming launch of Aurora's driverless truck service in Texas, delving into safety concerns, job displacement, and the necessity of human oversight. Urmson also addresses regulatory challenges and public skepticism surrounding autonomous vehicles. Tune in for a humorous anecdote about Kara's attempt to test Urmson’s own self-driving car!
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Kara's Self-Driving Car Experience
- Kara Swisher rode in one of Google's early self-driving cars and tried to hit Chris Urmson with it.
- The car, described as a "tiny clown car", did not cooperate with Swisher's attempts.
Urmson's Departure from Google
- Chris Urmson left Google's self-driving car project due to a disagreement in strategy.
- He believed Google wouldn't partner effectively to scale the technology.
Why Aurora Focused on Trucking
- Aurora chose to focus on trucking due to higher revenue potential and a severe driver shortage.
- Trucking also presented a chance to improve safety and offer drivers better working conditions.