Leon Starr

Waymo Vehicles Have Arrived On NYC Streets! https://lnkd.in/giXXNHnm I wrote a column for amNY Law examining the policy and regulatory landscape for robotaxis and autonomous vehicles in New York City! Read an excerpt below: Waymo’s recent expansion into New York City is making headlines, stirring a mix of curiosity and speculation in the taxicab, for-hire vehicle, and ride-hail industries.   While some are wondering what this means, how it will work and how it will affect them, the answer is quite simple: Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will save lives, create jobs, reduce congestion, and provide significant support for Vision Zero efforts to eliminate traffic injuries and fatalities. It is a game changer, and New York State and City must catch up with the more than 25 U.S. states enabling this technology to operate on public roads.   For now, Waymo’s NYC operations will involve human drivers behind the wheel with no paying passengers. This is not the same, full-blown autonomy that Waymo provides elsewhere, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. It is a data-gathering and simulation exercise that is an essential first step before the company can consider launching robotaxi service. It will take time before passengers can ride in driverless cars, as a recent bill to fully deploy Waymo in New York did not pass.   New York’s AV regulatory framework is defined by tight local control and state-level inertia. The state allows companies to obtain a permit from the DMV to test AVs on public roads with human safety drivers. At the same time, to test in NYC, companies must obtain approval from the NYC Department of Transportation. Even with state and local approval, Waymo cannot launch commercial robotaxi services in the five boroughs without approval from the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission to operate as taxis or rideshare vehicles. However, there is no legal pathway to such approval nor a plan to create one. The launch of AVs in NYC remains uncertain, whether as taxicabs, a high-volume service like Uber and Lyft, or leasing the vehicles to existing companies and taxi medallion owners. While other states like California and Florida have authorized commercial AV operations, New York lacks a clear legal framework for this. Companies like Waymo have successfully deployed fleets in other markets, allowing passengers to book rides via their app. For full-scale AV services to operate in New York, legislative action is essential. #AutonomousVehicles #Robotaxis #Waymo #NYCTransportation #SmartMobility #VisionZero #MobilityInnovation #UrbanMobility #TransportationPolicy #FutureOfTransportation #AVRegulation #TrafficSafety #RideHailing #PublicPolicy #TechInTransit #Micromobility #DMV #TLC #SelfDrivingCars #MobilityTech

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🚖 Robotaxis, Safety, and the Slow Path to Trustworthy AI Deployment Last month, Waymo released updated safety statistics: its autonomous fleet has now logged over 96 million miles. That’s a stress test for the future of mobility. And the results? Waymo claims its vehicles are 91% less likely to be involved in serious injury crashes than human drivers over the same distance. But the real story lies in the nuance. Between February and August, Waymo vehicles were involved in 45 reported crashes. Yet the majority weren’t caused by the self-driving tech itself. In 24 cases, the Waymo wasn’t even moving. Seven were rear-ended. Three involved passengers opening doors into cyclists. One had a wheel fall off. These aren’t failures of autonomy but reminders that human unpredictability still shadows machine precision. 📊 Meanwhile, other robotaxi providers are scaling fast: - Wayve, a UK-based startup backed by Uber, is preparing to launch fully driverless services in London by 2026. Its AI-first “AV2.0” model adapts to new cities without pre-mapping, and trials are already underway with Nissan vehicles. - Zoox, owned by Amazon, has launched a purpose-built robotaxi in Las Vegas with no steering wheel or pedals. It’s expanding to entertainment hubs like Sphere and aims for 100 vehicles by early 2026. - Baidu’s Apollo Go operates over 1,000 driverless vehicles across 16 cities including Dubai, Hong Kong, and soon Switzerland. It’s partnering with Lyft and Uber to deploy fleets in Europe. - May Mobility, in partnership with Lyft, has launched autonomous rides in Atlanta and is expanding to Southeast Asia with Grab. Its hybrid-electric fleet uses patented decision-making tech for safe urban navigation. - WeRide, backed by Uber, is rolling out robotaxis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with plans to expand to 15 more cities globally. It’s also operating in Beijing and Zurich, with over 1,200 vehicles in service. 🌍 And yes, Waymo is preparing to launch in London, marking its first major step into the UK market. Waymo’s deliberate slow pace is proving to be its strength. In an era where AI deployment often prioritizes scale over safety, this restraint is refreshing. Of course, Waymo’s vehicles are newer, meticulously maintained, and largely confined to city streets. Highway operations are limited to employees and select guests. And yes, they’re slower and more expensive than human-driven taxis. But here’s the strategic takeaway: safety-first AI deployment isn’t just ethical, it’s reputational capital. In contrast to generative AI models that have been linked to disinformation and mental health risks, Waymo’s approach offers a blueprint for responsible innovation. The lesson? Deliberate scaling, rigorous oversight, and transparent metrics are foundations of trust. #Robotaxis #Waymo #MobilityInnovation #SafetyByDesign #AIRegulation #TechGovernance #StrategicDeployment #RDInAPocket

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NTSB has a preliminary description of the Waymo robotaxi colliding with a student pedestrian in Santa Monica. The diagram provides useful insight into how it happened. The student seems to have crossed mid-block instead of using the available marked crosswalk at the end of the block. But then again, this was a 9-year-old student and it is an elementary school, so such activity should not be a complete surprise. We also do not know if that is a customary behavior for other students in this scenario, which would be something accounted for by human drivers participating in the cultural experience that is "drop-off line". The student was crossing from a vehicle in the opposite-direction travel lane as the robotaxi. It is worth paying particular attention to the boundaries of the school speed limit, as well as the proximity to the school. The collision occurred just after the transition from 15 mph to 25 mph, with the robotaxi going 17 mph. Based on this analysis that is below the legal speed limit, but speed appropriate for context is an additional determination that is still pending. One fact of interest is that the robotaxi was there because it had just "completed a passenger drop-off ... at the stop sign in front of an elementary school". (Wondering how old that passenger riding solo was arriving at an elementary school .... but that potential issue is unrelated to the collision.) Thanks as always to NTSB for their rigorous approach to investigations. Worth noting as well that Waymo, as a party to the investigation, would not be expected to comment in an ongoing investigation. So a lack of comment from them is neither a positive nor negative indication. NTSB Investigation web page: https://lnkd.in/epCe6Qmc

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Lucid Group, Nuro, and Uber unveiled the production-intent vehicles for their upcoming global robotaxi service and debuted the Uber-designed in-cabin rider experience at CES 2026. The companies also confirmed that autonomous on-road testing began last month, ahead of the service’s planned launch in the San Francisco Bay Area later this year. Nuro is leading testing with robotaxi engineering prototypes under supervision by trained autonomous vehicle operators. See EVinfo.net's article: https://lnkd.in/gpeBjapP CES attendees can see the robotaxi firsthand. Based on the impressive all-electric Lucid Gravity, the vehicle features a next-generation sensor suite with high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar, and radar for full 360-degree perception. Sensors are integrated into the vehicle body and a roof-mounted halo that preserves Lucid’s design. Integrated LED lighting helps riders identify the correct vehicle, displays initials, and communicates trip status. Inside, the Uber-designed cabin emphasizes comfort, transparency, and control. Interactive screens allow passengers to adjust climate and seats, manage entertainment, contact support, or request a pull-over. Real-time visualizations show what the vehicle sees and its planned path, including lane changes, traffic lights, pedestrian yielding, and drop-offs. The vehicle’s autonomy system is powered by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor, part of the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion platform. Nuro’s safety and validation program includes on-road testing, closed-course testing, and simulation, evaluating dozens of capabilities across the autonomy stack using its end-to-end AI foundation model with verifiable safety logic. Pending final validation, production-intent robotaxis are expected to begin manufacturing later this year. The vehicle is on display at NVIDIA’s CES showcase at the Fontainebleau Hotel from January 5–8, 2026. Why Lidar Matters for Robotaxi Safety Lidar, used by Lucid, Nuro, and Uber, is widely recognized as a critical safety layer over camera-only systems. Lidar generates precise 3D point clouds for accurate depth and object recognition, performs reliably in low-light or adverse weather, and adds redundancy. Camera-only systems, such as Tesla’s, rely solely on AI interpreting visual data, which can fail. Most Level 4 and 5 developers, including Waymo and Zoox, favor sensor fusion with lidar for dependable, all-condition safety. If your’e riding in robotaxis or investing in them, we recommend the safer Lidar systems and advise avoiding the camera-only systems. EVinfo.net is an EV-influencer led publication, offering sponsored articles, interviews and more to the EV industry. See samples below: https://lnkd.in/gH5Gdqb7 Don't miss the vitally important EV Charging Summit & Expo, March 17-19 2026, Las Vegas. #robotaxi #electricvehicles

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Autonomous cars aren’t as “driverless” as we think. When Waymo’s safety chief testified before the Senate, one detail grabbed attention: Waymo uses remote assistance workers — including teams based in the Philippines — to support its robotaxis operating on U.S. roads. Not to drive them. But to guide them when the AI system requests help. About 70 remote agents support a fleet of 3,000 vehicles, which deliver over 400,000 rides weekly. That ratio sounds efficient. It also raises hard questions. If autonomy still relies on human oversight — even indirectly — how “fully autonomous” are we? Lawmakers are questioning licensing, jurisdiction, and accountability. Waymo insists the vehicles drive themselves, while U.S.-based teams handle collisions and law enforcement coordination. The bigger issue isn’t outsourcing. It’s transparency. For years, AV companies avoided explaining what happens behind the scenes. But mystery breeds mistrust. As robotaxis expand into new markets, public trust may matter more than technical capability. Curious how others view this hybrid model — necessary safeguard or autonomy illusion? #AutonomousVehicles #Waymo #AI #Mobility #TechPolicy #Transportation #Innovation

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https://lnkd.in/gWystmb8 Waymo is planning to expand its robotaxi service to the San Francisco Peninsula (Brisbane, South San Francisco, etc.), Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, Menlo Park), and Los Angeles (Sunset Boulevard, etc.). With California's expansion approval and operating 250,000 rides per week with 1,500 vehicles, Waymo is gaining an advantage in the market competition ahead of Tesla's Austin robotaxi launch. Despite recently receiving approval to expand operations to the San Jose area, Waymo is delaying the launch as part of a cautiouscommercialization plan. This represents a gradual expansion strategy that considers regional regulations and demand, while prioritizing the maintenance of stable service quality.

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🛰️ 𝐒𝐒𝐂 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 #𝟒     𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.    Design decisions early in a mission can significantly reduce collision risk and improve long-term sustainability. This includes creating safe constellation architectures and taking precautions to prevent dead-on-arrival deployments, particularly when fielding new spacecraft designs. ℹ️ The SSC is an ad hoc coalition that actively promotes responsible space safety through the adoption and development of international standards, guidelines, and practices.    Help shape the future of space safety. Learn how to join the SSC at ➡️ spacesafety.org. 

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Rivian debuts its RAP1 inference chip and "Large Driving Model" architecture. The roadmap confirms a multi-modal sensor strategy including LiDAR, targeting Level 4 autonomy for the upcoming R2 platform. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gdhRqd3S

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Cars outfitted with sensors have been quietly driving up and down Vallejo and Mare Island for the past few months, but they’re not mapping for Google or testing autonomous vehicle technology like Waymo. Instead, they’re measuring air pollution. https://lnkd.in/g3MWsDHw

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