Business Wars Waymo and the Rise of the Robotaxis | To Build a Driver | 1
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Jan 14, 2026 Explore the fierce race to create autonomous vehicles, sparked by Google’s multi-billion dollar investment. Discover the ambitious journeys of innovators like Anthony Lewandowski and the challenges of developing self-driving technology. Tensions rise as the team navigates trade-offs between speed and safety, while competitors like Tesla and Uber ramp up their own advancements. Witness the groundbreaking tech demos that led to the birth of Waymo, setting the stage for a future filled with robotaxis.
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Passenger Trapped In Looping Robo-Taxi
- Mike Johns experienced a robo-taxi looping a parking lot and he couldn't stop it from inside the car.
- He was shaken and vowed never to ride a robo-taxi again, illustrating passenger trust issues.
Technical Challenges Extend Timeline
- Building a car that sees and thinks like a human proved far harder than engineers expected.
- Technical edge and regulatory, insurance, and trust hurdles all slowed commercialization.
Ghost Rider: The Audacious Motorcycle
- Anthony Lewandowski built Ghost Rider, an autonomous motorcycle for DARPA's Grand Challenge.
- The bike fell hundreds of times but showcased bold differentiation and hustle.
