The hottest Autonomous Vehicles Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

The social justice case for self-driving cars

Odds and Ends of History • 871 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Autonomous Vehicles Mobility Artificial Intelligence Social justice Transportation
  1. Self-driving cars are becoming more common and are already in use in places like San Francisco. Companies are offering autonomous taxi services that anyone can access through an app.
  2. The idea of abundant mobility means that, in the future, traveling will be much cheaper and easier for everyone. This could make life better for many people, especially those with lower incomes, by improving access to jobs, services, and social connections.
  3. While there are challenges and concerns with self-driving cars, like job losses and privacy issues, the overall benefits could lead to a more equal and accessible society, similar to how technology has improved living standards over time.

Pony.ai’s Robotaxis and the Long Road Ahead

ChinaTalk • 370 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Autonomous Vehicles Startup funding Market Trends
  1. Pony.ai is a leading robotaxi company in China, rapidly expanding its fleet and operations in major cities. They are working to boost their commercialization amidst significant competition.
  2. Despite a promising start, Pony.ai is currently facing challenges in profitability, with high operational costs and moderate revenue growth. They hope to improve their financial situation by 2025.
  3. Pony.ai is exploring international expansion but must navigate strict regulations and competition in foreign markets. They currently focus on China, where they have strong government support and demand.

Seven Predictions For Tech in 2024

Big Technology • 9632 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Virtual reality Social media Market Analysis Autonomous Vehicles
  1. Generative AI will advance in 2024 with new capabilities like better conversation retention and reasoning.
  2. The year 2024 is predicted to be significant for mixed reality advancements, integrating AI avatars and assistants.
  3. Tech industry forecasts include Elon Musk selling X, Meta's market cap reaching $1 trillion, and NVIDIA facing increased competition.

From Rideshare to Robotaxi: Uber, Waymo, and the Future of Autonomous Vehicles

Gad’s Newsletter • 32 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Autonomous Vehicles Market Dynamics Business Models User Experience
  1. Waymo's self-driving robotaxi offers a smoother experience than traditional ridesharing by eliminating awkward conversations and optimizing routes. This shows how autonomous vehicles can change the ride-hailing game.
  2. The ride-hailing market is shifting as new players like Waymo disrupt established companies like Uber. Despite Uber's strong network effects, low switching costs for users allow them to easily choose between different services.
  3. Different business models are emerging in autonomous vehicle ownership. Companies like Waymo focus on owning fleets for reliability, while Uber relies on independent drivers for flexibility, highlighting the need for partnerships in the evolving market.
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The Automation Paradox: How More Tech Can Mean More Human Challenges

UX Psychology • 297 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Automation UX Design Human factors Autonomous Vehicles Language Models
  1. Increased automation can lead to unexpected complications for human tasks, creating a paradox where reliance on technology may actually hinder human performance.
  2. The 'Irony of Automation' highlights unintended consequences like automation not reducing human workload, requiring more complex skills for operators, and leading to decreased vigilance.
  3. Strategies like enhancing monitoring systems, maintaining manual and cognitive skills, and thoughtful interface design are crucial for addressing the challenges posed by automation and keeping human factors in focus.

WeRide goes public as self-driving reaches its commercial tipping point

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Autonomous Vehicles Startups Funding Innovation Transportation
  1. WeRide has gone public with its IPO priced at $15.50 per share, marking a significant milestone in the self-driving industry.
  2. Waymo is not far behind, successfully raising $5.6 billion to expand its autonomous driving services, showing strong commercial growth.
  3. As self-driving technology becomes more viable, we are likely to see more robotaxis operating in cities, which could change how we travel for the better.

The AI Revolution: Autonomous Vehicles, AI Biases, and Future Trends with Jérémy Cohen

What's AI Newsletter by Louis-François Bouchard • 196 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Autonomous Vehicles Ethics Innovation Startups
  1. The podcast episode discusses the ethical complexities of autonomous vehicles and AI biases.
  2. The conversation explores AI's transformative impact in various sectors beyond transportation.
  3. Listeners can engage with fresh perspectives on AI and its implications on society.

What the F*AI*K is happening?

Robots & Startups • 99 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Deepfakes Autonomous Vehicles Artificial Intelligence
  1. Robots utilizing AI can make a positive impact in the physical world by addressing real-world problems and global challenges.
  2. Unleashed AI can lead to misinformation and unreliable data, which poses a significant threat if not controlled.
  3. The proliferation of fake robot videos can create skepticism and hinder the credibility of real robotic advancements.

The Future of Autonomous Weapons Systems

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 07 Jul 24
🕹 Technology AI Systems Autonomous Vehicles Military Strategy Cyber Warfare
  1. Autonomous weapons systems are rapidly developing, especially after the Russia-Ukraine war, with countries learning from real battlefield experiences. Bigger nations like the US and China may soon engage in a 'drone wars' cold war using these technologies.
  2. There are phases of evolution for these systems. It starts with semi-autonomous units, progresses to more independent operations, and eventually leads to fully integrated battle networks where AI makes most tactical decisions.
  3. By 2030, the use of autonomous weapons will be widespread, making human combatants less effective on the battlefield. New strategies will focus on mass deploying these systems and using advanced AI for decision making.

The Beginning of the End of Private Cars in American Cities

The New Urban Order • 179 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Transportation Urban living Autonomous Vehicles City Planning
  1. Private car ownership in American cities is likely to decrease in the coming decades, with a shift towards a variety of mobility options like bikes, scooters, taxis, and rental cars.
  2. Diverse demographic and social trends, including remote work, declining young families, and aging Baby Boomers, are contributing to this transition away from private car ownership.
  3. The rise of car-share options, developments in autonomous vehicles, and the focus on mobility mix in some American cities are further paving the way for decreased reliance on owning cars.

Charts on Venture Capital, some VC robotics articles, and startup failure advice

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Venture Capital Robotics Startups Autonomous Vehicles AI
  1. There are more startups in the US than VCs can support, leading to increased competition for funding and a rise in startup failures.
  2. Investors are showing increased interest and making significant investments in robotics startups, especially those focused on AI and autonomy.
  3. Success rates for founders improve with past experience, highlighting the importance of learning from failure in the startup world.

Benchmarking humanoid robots begins!

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Autonomous Vehicles Startup Innovation
  1. 2024 is set to see the commercial release of several new humanoid robots, advancing capabilities in manufacturing, logistics, and retail.
  2. Benchmarking for humanoid robots is crucial for determining their success - factors like endurance and dexterity are key, surpassing simple speed comparisons.
  3. Industry leaders stress the importance of establishing common benchmarks in the field to support the emerging market and drive innovation.

Update #70: Apple Shutters Autonomous EV Project and Griffin + Hawk Compete with Transformers

The Gradient • 24 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Autonomous Vehicles Generative AI Research Studies Software Engineering
  1. Apple terminated its Project Titan autonomous electric car project and shifted focus to generative AI, impacting hundreds of employees.
  2. Challenges faced by Project Titan included leadership changes, strategic shifts, and difficulties in developing self-driving technology.
  3. Research proposes RNN-based architectures Hawk and Griffin that compete with Transformers, offering more efficiency for language models.

I knew this was coming

Apperceptive (moved to buttondown) • 32 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Self-driving cars Tech industry Software Development Autonomous Vehicles
  1. The self-driving car industry had many startups aiming for a piece of the autonomous car market.
  2. Waymo and Cruise were seen as leading the race for self-driving vehicles, but had vastly different approaches and challenges.
  3. Cruise faced difficulties transitioning from testing to deploying revenue taxi service while still grappling with technical challenges.

Fight to Repair Daily: Wednesday October 12, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 12 Oct 22
🕹 Technology Data Privacy Autonomous Vehicles Circular Economy Cybersecurity Open Source
  1. Stellantis, parent company of Jeep and others, aims to generate over $2 billion in revenue by 2030 through its Circular Economy Business Unit focusing on reman, repair, reuse, and recycle.
  2. The battle over Massachusetts right-to-repair law shows significant disagreements between automakers and the Attorney General regarding key terms, cybersecurity, and data-sharing timelines.
  3. Big agriculture's emphasis on bushels per acre over profits may harm farmers as they overspend on inputs to achieve higher yields, benefiting companies more than the farmers themselves.

The 11th MUTCD is Exactly What We Should Expect...

Exasperated Infrastructures • 7 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
📰 News Transportation Policy Safety Engineering Autonomous Vehicles
  1. The 11th edition of the MUTCD addresses the need for updated road safety measures but lacks clear accountability processes.
  2. The controversial '85th percentile speed trap' rule in the MUTCD has received criticism for rewarding law-breaking behavior.
  3. The new version of the MUTCD includes factors like pedestrian activity in speed limit determinations, but lacks clear definitions and enforcement mechanisms.

Data Science Weekly - Issue 153

Data Science Weekly Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 27 Oct 16
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data science Autonomous Vehicles Cloud Computing
  1. Self-driving cars are not fully ready for everyday use yet, so we should be cautious when thinking about how they will change transportation.
  2. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform various industries, similar to how electricity changed the world.
  3. Data is becoming a vital part of decision-making in many areas, including sports like basketball, changing how teams operate.

More interesting things in robotics this week - Issue #44

Robots & Startups • 0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 21
🕹 Technology Robotics Funding Startups Autonomous Vehicles
  1. In October 2021, there were 58 funding rounds for robotics and autonomous vehicle companies, raising a total of $1.7B.
  2. 27.6% of the funding rounds in October were Seed rounds, showing a mix of early-stage and later-stage investments.
  3. SciFounders launched an accelerator program and fund that provides scientist founders with control over voting rights, emphasizing support for founders in the industry.

Self-Driving Cars Pedalled a Lie So Far?

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🕹 Technology AI Autonomous Vehicles Robotics Transport Innovation
  1. Tesla's self-driving cars are not fully autonomous; they are at Level 2, meaning drivers still have to be ready to take control anytime.
  2. Wayve, a UK company, has achieved Level 5 technology, where cars can drive themselves completely without human intervention.
  3. Wayve's system uses a new approach called GAIA-1 that combines video, text, and actions to create realistic driving scenarios.

Artificial Intelligence is a Compost Heap (Ideally)

Cybernetic Forests • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Data Management Machine Learning Autonomous Vehicles
  1. Artificial Intelligence can be thought of as a living system like a compost heap, breaking down and reorganizing to produce something new.
  2. Metaphors play a crucial role in how we perceive and design AI, shifting from brain-centric models to organic and dynamic models like compost intelligence.
  3. Compost intelligence could offer benefits like data decomposition freeing up energy, designing for self-regulation, and emphasizing emergence and nurturing in creating richer outcomes.

Using LLMs For Autonomous Vehicles

Cobus Greyling on LLMs, NLU, NLP, chatbots & voicebots • 0 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🕹 Technology AI Autonomous Vehicles Machine Learning Data science Predictive Modeling
  1. Large Language Models (LLMs) can help autonomous vehicles predict if other cars will change lanes and explain those predictions clearly.
  2. It's important for these predictions to be quick, ideally under 500 milliseconds, so cars can respond fast in traffic.
  3. Integrating LLMs can improve trust in self-driving cars by making their decision-making process clearer and easier to understand.

Robotaxi up in flames after crowd attacks vehicle

Global Community Weekly (GloCom) • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
📰 News Autonomous Vehicles Social media San Francisco Crime Technology Events Safety Local
  1. A crowd in San Francisco's Chinatown attacked a Waymo robotaxi, setting it on fire, prompting an investigation by authorities.
  2. The incident damaged the autonomous vehicle, leading to concerns of potential similar actions during festivities like the Super Bowl.
  3. City officials, including Supervisor Aaron Peskin, are taking measures to ensure safety, with police presence boosted for potential security threats.

Why self driving cars are/aren't better than human drivers long term

Hazy Bridge • 0 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Transportation Autonomous Vehicles Safety Future Technology
  1. Self-driving cars offer increased safety by eliminating human error on the roads.
  2. Self-driving cars can optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion through 24/7 operation.
  3. Self-driving cars enhance accessibility for individuals with limited mobility and offer productivity and convenience benefits for all passengers.

The Trade-Off Every AI Company Will Make

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 28 Mar 17
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Autonomous Vehicles Data Collection Product Development
  1. Training for AI, like pilots or cashiers, is essential for machines to learn and improve in performance.
  2. Determining what is "good enough" for machine intelligence involves considering the trade-offs in terms of error tolerance and level of in-house vs on-the-job learning.
  3. The decision of when to deploy AI systems into the real world for learning involves balancing the need for data with the potential risks to brand and customer safety.

Who should control your cars software

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Dec 15
🕹 Technology Autonomous Vehicles Data Privacy
  1. Ownership and control of a car's software is a complex issue, especially in the context of autonomous vehicles.
  2. The debate boils down to whether third parties like manufacturers or governments should have the power to restrict user's ability to alter software for safety reasons.
  3. Maintaining transparency and user control over software modifications may be crucial to balance safety and individual liberties in the era of autonomous vehicles.

Why Elon Musks new strategy makes sense

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 16
🕹 Technology Electric Vehicles Solar energy Autonomous Vehicles Clean Energy Business strategy
  1. Elon Musk's new strategy for Tesla involves moving beyond the traditional car market and focusing on reconfiguring cities, energy systems, and environmental impact.
  2. Tesla's approach to building electric cars involved designing the vehicles from a clean slate, integrating software and hardware in a new architecture.
  3. Musk's plan to merge Tesla with SolarCity aims to create an integrated company that can innovate in clean energy solutions, including combining electric cars with solar power for reduced carbon footprint.