About this podcast

Join Lex Fridman in a compelling conversation with Boris Sofman, Senior Director of Engineering and Head of Trucking at Waymo, formerly the pioneering Google Self-Driving Car project. Sofman, also the visionary co-founder and former CEO of home robotics innovator Anki, shares his profound insights into artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. This episode explores the fascinating journey of robotics from science fiction concepts to practical applications like Anki's Cozmo and Waymo Via's advanced self-driving trucks. Dive into critical discussions on AI companions, the role of advanced sensor suites for long-haul trucking, the power of machine learning in autonomy, a comparative analysis of Waymo vs. Tesla, and the crucial aspects of safety and risk management in automation. The conversation also touches on the societal impact of AI, the future of humanoid robotics, and offers invaluable advice for aspiring students and startups navigating the dynamic robotics industry. Discover essential guidance on pursuing a PhD in robotics and successfully launching a robotics startup.