Nvidia Aims to Join the Robotaxi Competition
In a significant move for the autonomous vehicle industry, Nvidia has announced plans to invest $500 million in Wayve Technologies, a London-based self-driving car startup. This investment is part of Nvidia's broader strategy to double down on investments in the UK's AI scene, as the country experiences a "Goldilocks moment" according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Founded in 2017 by Cambridge researchers Amar Shah and Alex Kendall, Wayve Technologies develops autonomous driving systems using end-to-end deep learning focused on camera data, without the need for detailed 3D maps. This approach sets Wayve apart from its competitors.
The startup, which raised over $1.3 billion in a funding round last year, has attracted notable investors such as SoftBank, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Uber. Nvidia's support underscores Wayve's "potential to transform the future of mobility," as stated by Wayve's co-founder and CEO, Alex Kendall.
Wayve's upcoming Gen-3 platform will run on Nvidia's DRIVE AGX Thor hardware, further solidifying the partnership between the two companies. The investment aligns with Nvidia's strength in AI chips, making it a strategic move for both parties.
Meanwhile, Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi predicts that driverless taxis could outnumber human-driven ones within 10 to 15 years. Uber will begin public-road trials of fully driverless cars in London using Wayve software, signalling a step towards this prediction becoming a reality.
Other players in the autonomous vehicle market are also making strides. Alphabet's Waymo robotaxis are operating in several U.S. cities, while Amazon's Zoox taxis, which have no steering wheels or pedals, are offering rides in Las Vegas this month. Tesla is testing its own self-driving car service in Austin.
Nissan has also announced plans to incorporate Wayve's tech into its driver-assistance system starting in 2027, demonstrating the wide-ranging potential of Wayve's technology.
AI is unlocking new science and sparking entirely new industries in the U.K., as stated by Huang. With Nvidia's significant investment in Wayve Technologies, the future of autonomous mobility in the UK looks promising.
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