Today on Equity, we're taking you on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt for Kirsten Korosec's conversation with Zoox co-founder and CEO Jesse Levinson. The pair discuss building custom robotaxis, how Zoox's approach compares to that of Tesla, and the 'current and future landscape' of AI on wheels. It's also worth noting that Amazon-owned Zoox recently scooped up some of Tesla’s top talent, bringing on Zheng Gao late last month to lead hardware engineering.Equity will be back on Friday with a full CES recap, so don't miss it!Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here.Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We'd also like to thank our illustrator, Bryce Durbin, and the TechCrunch audience development team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse Levinson, the CTO and co-founder of Zoox, dives into the world of groundbreaking robotaxi technology. The conversation highlights the thrill of riding in a purpose-built autonomous vehicle, revealing its unique capabilities compared to traditional cars. They discuss the complexities of navigating the iconic Las Vegas Strip, addressing urban unpredictability and real-time decision-making. Jesse reflects on the challenges and triumphs faced in the tech industry, emphasizing adaptability and innovative solutions in the rapidly evolving landscape of autonomous transportation.

Aicha Evans, CEO of Zoox, and Jesse Levinson, CTO and co-founder, dive into the future of autonomous vehicles. Evans shares how she transitioned from Intel to Zoox after a pivotal leadership change. They discuss their innovative design for a fully autonomous robo-taxi aimed at urban ride-sharing, intentionally avoiding pitfalls like the Uber Pool problem. The duo also tackles the significant funding challenges in the competitive auto industry and explores how Zoox plans to revolutionize urban mobility with safety and efficiency in mind.