Uber and Waymo Are Sparring. The Robotaxi Future Has Arrived

kept by eddie jul 16

Uber and Waymo are competing in the robotaxi market, signaling that autonomous ride-hailing has become a commercial reality.

Robotaxis and Suburbia – Stratechery by Ben Thompson
Robotaxis and same-hour delivery will shrink the convenience gap between suburbs and cities, potentially ending the urbanist revival and challenging Uber's long-term model.
also on Uber, Waymo, #autonomous-vehicles, #business-strategy
Our Servants Will Do That For Us
The article argues that automation will eliminate both drudgery and meaningful work, and human preference for convenience makes a post-scarcity utopia unlikely.
also on Uber, Waymo, #business-strategy
Tesla Robotaxis Are Big on Wall St. but Lagging on Roads - The New York Times
Tesla's stock soars on robotaxi optimism, but experts state the automaker lags far behind Waymo in actual self-driving deployment on roads.
also on Waymo, #autonomous-vehicles, #competition, #business-strategy
Advancements In Self-Driving Cars - by Zvi Mowshowitz
Waymo expands to the entire SF Bay Area and plans 17 US cities by 2026, but faces regulatory barriers and speed-limit issues despite being vastly safer than human drivers.
also on Waymo, #autonomous-vehicles, #competition
Self-driving, Tesla and the influence of brand
Tesla's brand halo causes overestimation of its self-driving lead, but competitors offer comparable Level 2 systems and the brand declines due to Musk's politics and competition.
also on #autonomous-vehicles, #competition, #business-strategy