Waymo executives spent the period pressing a safety-over-speed narrative: CEO Tekedra Mawakana explained why she rejects Silicon Valley's 'move fast and break things' ethos, while a colleague argued Tesla's camera-only approach can't match lidar for safety. Co-CEO Terence Sheahan issued a broader warning to AI companies building robots and cars, and the pitch got empirical backing from an IIHS study finding Waymo robotaxis crash 68% less often than human drivers.
Boston Dynamics and Hyundai Motor Group have set up a joint venture to bring the Atlas humanoid robot to market, turning years of viral backflip videos into an actual commercialization plan. The move comes as commentators note Hyundai's early lead is being challenged by BYD, which is pushing its own humanoid ambitions — though for now that rivalry remains more analysis than announced hardware.