Season 7, Post 34: “This may feel futuristic…”
A pre-recorded electronic voice greeted your author with these words when he stepped into an autonomous, or self-driving, vehicle for the first time. This was, however, the leastodd part of the experience. Without a driver, passengers must rely entirely on technology to get them safely to their destination. It is both exciting and unnerving to watch the car’s steering wheel move by increments and for the vehicle to brake automatically – particularly in a city with streets as precipitous as those of San Francisco.
Waymo (which is owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company) has been operating in San Francisco for over three years, but the service has only been available to the public since June 2024. Services are also available in LA, Phoenix, Atlanta and Austin, with DC and Miami slated to launch soon. Waymo hasover 2,000 autonomous operational in the US today. In your author’s opinion, there should be more.
The service is easy to use. Just download the app, establish your payment source (it’s simple to link to Apple Pay) and you’re ready to go. The user interface is similar to Uber’s. When the scheduled car arrives, tap with your phone to unlock the door, and you’re in. Hit “start ride” on the Tesla-like dashboard and the car starts. The best part of the experience: Waymo can link directly to your Spotify and you can play your music as loudly as you like without fear of the driver – for there isn’t one – getting distracted.
The technology supporting Waymo is a complex array of hardware and software. Think LIDAR (i.e. laser-driven detection sensors), cameras and radars, as well as AI and deep-learning, high-definition mapping and GPS positioning. Fear not, redundant systems are built in for safety, so if one sensor breaks, the car can still pull in data from others. Humans also oversee the fleet and can intervene if needed.
Over a decade ago, we suggested that the road to ‘autopia’ would be long and complex. The past ten years have seen multiple disappointments within the auto space (in both the electric and autonomous spheres), but the prospect of a fully automated transport as a service proposition seems to be drawing ever closer – at least in the US. Driverless car pilots are only due to be coming to the UK in Spring next year. Your author is excited about buckling up.
9 September 2025
The above does not constitute investment advice and is the sole opinion of the author at the time of publication. Past performance is no guide to future performance and the value of investments and income from them can fall as well as rise.
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Alex Gunz, Fund Manager
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