Exclusive: Waymo says there's no AI shortcut to self-driving

AxiosAugust 26, 2026en

Breakthroughs in AI are fueling hopes that more data and smarter models can provide a shortcut to self-driving vehicles. Waymo, after more than 15 years and 200 million driverless miles, says there is none. Why it matters: The answer could determine whether the AV race is a long, expensive slog that rewards Waymo's head start — or a new track that lets newer rivals hit the road faster. Driving the news: Srikanth Thirumalai, Waymo's vice president of onboard software, said in an exclusive interview with Axios that it takes more than just better AI to safely deploy AVs at scale. Waymo's goal from the start, he said, has been "demonstrably safe AI." But a growing reliance from competitors on si

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