# The future of driving is autonomous with Dmitri Dolgov of Waymo

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-11-23
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo

## Summary

Dmitri Dolgov, co-CEO of Waymo, recounts the company's decade-long journey from a secret Google project to the world's first fully autonomous ride-hailing service. He details the technical evolution from the early DARPA Challenge vehicles to the current Jaguar I-PACE fleet, explaining why Waymo chose a multi-sensor approach with LiDAR and radar over Tesla's camera-only vision. Dolgov also discusses the strategic pivot to full autonomy, the safety framework that underpins their operations, and the business model involving Waymo One, Uber partnerships, and future personal vehicle ownership.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo#t=0) Introduction and DARPA Origins
- [5:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo#t=333) The Google Self-Driving Car Project and Early Challenges
- [14:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo#t=863) Pivoting to Full Autonomy and the Firefly Prototype
- [23:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo#t=1409) Sensor Technology: LiDAR, Radar, and Cameras vs. Tesla
- [26:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo#t=1599) Waymo One Launch, Safety, and Business Model
- [39:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-11-23-the-future-of-driving-is-autonomous-with-dmitri-dolgov-of-waymo#t=2396) Future of Autonomous Driving and Personal Ownership

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Waymo (company)
- Google (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Uber (company)
- Jaguar I-PACE (product)
- LiDAR (tool)
- DARPA (company)
- Firefly (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 136: Making driverless vehicles smarter - Shimon Whiteson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-12-05-episode-136-making-driverless-vehicles-smarter-shimon-whiteson) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep. 22 | Cruise's Sr. VP of Engineering, Mo ElShenawy, on Developing Autonomous Vehicles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-04-15-ep-22-cruises-sr-vp-of-engineering-mo-elshenawy-on-developing-autonomous-vehicle) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Ep. 33 | From Autonomous Golf Carts to Semis: The Journey to the Self-Driving Truck](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-10-06-ep-33-from-autonomous-golf-carts-to-semis-the-journey-to-the-self-driving-truck) (Moore's Lobby)
- [CES 2020, Day 3: IC Vendors Talk Self-Driving | Mobileye’s Discovery | Toyota’s Smart City](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-01-08-ces-2020-day-3-ic-vendors-talk-self-driving-mobileyes-discovery-toyotas-smart-ci) (EE Times Current)
- [Episode 81: Vision for self-driving cars - Vassia Simaiaki](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-04-19-episode-81-vision-for-self-driving-cars-vassia-simaiaki) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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