Waymo takes a shot at Tesla’s self-driving: it’s a ‘false summit’

Waymo has published a blog post titled "10 AI Lessons from Driving 200+ Million Fully Autonomous Miles," which critiques the approach taken by Tesla regarding autonomous driving. In this post, Srikanth Thirumalai, Waymo's VP of Onboard Software, emphasizes that relying solely on cameras is insufficient for achieving full autonomy. This assertion indirectly targets Tesla's Full Self-Driving initiative, which seeks to enhance driver-assist features towards full autonomy. Waymo's critique suggests that a multifaceted approach is necessary for the advancement of fully autonomous vehicles. One of the key lessons highlighted by Waymo is the notion that attempting to transition a driver-assist system into full autonomy is a "false summit." This statement reflects Waymo's belief that the current strategies employed by companies like Tesla may not adequately address the complexities of fully autonomous driving. The blog post does not directly name Tesla or Elon Musk, but the implications of the critique are clear, as it addresses the ongoing debate within the autonomous vehicle industry regarding the adequacy of various technologies. Waymo's insights stem from its extensive experience, having driven over 200 million miles in fully autonomous operation. The company’s position underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to self-driving technology, which goes beyond just camera systems. This perspective contributes to the broader discussion about the future of self-driving technology and the differing methodologies employed by various companies in the sector.