scripod.com
The Self-Driving Startup Nobody Saw Coming | E2289

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

The Self-Driving Startup Nobody Saw Coming | E2289

This Week in Startups

17 HOURS AGO
This Week in Startups

This Week in Startups

17 HOURS AGO
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

This Week In Startups is made possible by: IM8 Health: IM8health.com/TWIST Squarespace: Squarespace.com/TWIST Render - Render.com/TWIST Self-driving just stopped being a science problem and became an engineering challenge instead. That's the thro...

Highlights

This episode features a deep dive into the evolving landscape of autonomous vehicle technology through conversations with Alex Kendall of Wayve and Raquel Urtasun of Waabi—two visionary leaders redefining how self-driving systems are built and deployed.
00:00
Waabi is not for sale
01:21
The industry is now supporting Wayve's contrarian approach to self-driving AI
03:05
A world model can understand the world's state, is a powerful representation learning method, and can act as a simulator
07:34
There's no strict minimum ingestion level for sensors, and the approach supports various sensor combinations
10:00
Self-driving has not been cracked yet
12:54
Wayve has passed the scientific risk for self-driving and demonstrated global scalability with hands-off driving
23:04
A low-cost monthly subscription for eyes-off driving could transform the market
27:45
Wayve's stack can work with various robotics applications like sidewalk delivery, trucking, etc., with a small amount of data input into the foundation model
32:39
Wayve will sell cars with Nissan next year
35:59
Waabi uses world models—learned, physics-aware simulations—to power self-driving instead of traditional perception stacks
39:36
World models cut time to market, increase system safety, and reduce costs
46:59
Late-2025 AI model releases triggered transformative shifts in coding and self-driving capabilities
47:35
For trucking, driver shortage and safety issues make self-driving adoption a no-brainer
55:38
Waabi focuses on building foundational AI technology to drive in generalized environments, not just hub-to-hub corridors
58:52
Waabi’s commercial self-driving truck fleet is operational with top logistics partners and scaling via Volvo OEM integration
1:03:46
Uber robotaxi deal involves over 25,000 vehicles with Waabi as the technology provider
1:07:22
The traditional progression from L0 to L4 may not be the fastest or even a viable path

Chapters

Alex Kendall (Wayve) joins the show
00:00
The contrarian bet on end-to-end AI and world models in 2017
01:19
What is a world model? GAIA-2 and GAIA-3 explained
03:05
Sensor agnosticism: camera, radar, LiDAR and minimum bar for safety
07:34
$1.5B raised — have we cracked self-driving?
09:56
Render: Find out why 5 million developers are already using the all-in-one cloud platform, Render. Go to https://render.com/twist and apply for the Render Startup Program to get $500-$100,000 in free credits, depending on your stage and backers.
10:09
Squarespace: Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
20:38
How consumers will actually pay: bundle, subscription, or free trial
25:03
IM8 Health: Start feeling like your best self every day. Go to https://IM8health.com/twist and use the code TWiST to get a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.
30:15
Raquel Urtasun (Waabi) joins the show
35:59
World models as controllable simulators for physical AI
36:25
One AI brain across trucks, robotaxis, and beyond
43:34
What changed in AI to make 2026 the deployment year
47:35
Why Waabi raised $1B when they're capital-efficient
52:28
Where Waabi is today: Volvo VNL Autonomous, Dallas-Houston, Uber Freight
58:52
Per-mile pricing and the Driver-as-a-Service model
1:00:50
Has Uber tried to buy Waabi? "Not for sale"
1:07:20

Transcript

Alex Wilhelm: We pioneered end-to-end learning when it was widely dismissed. Alex Kendall: Self-driving in a way that economically scales the world is not solved. Raquel Urtasun: Our partnership is not up to $25,000, it is over $25,000, or, in other word...