Waabi, an artificial intelligence startup, was established in the Toronto area only four years ago. Today, it’s at the helm of the revolution toward autonomy in the trucking industry. The company operates around a dozen autonomous trucks on the Dallas-Houston route for Uber’s freight division. This operation is a significant step in showcasing its advanced technology in real-world, everyday conditions.
Founded by world-leading AI specialist Raquel Urtasun, Waabi is using the latest breakthroughs to bring about a new era in logistics. Core to Waabi’s operations is AV 2.0, a generative AI system that Waabi claims is the world’s first of its kind. This technology allows for trucks to “think” the way human drivers think, going above and beyond simple pre-programmed reactions. This unique, purpose-built approach is what sets Waabi’s technology apart in an increasingly competitive market.
Waabi’s self-driving rigs were trained to drive highways like pros. They handle perfectly on more rugged terrain, like up-hill, down-hill, snow and ice. The system enables these vehicles to choose the safest action in a fraction of a second, addressing critical safety concerns that arise in adverse conditions. As Urtasun explains, “It decides the safest course of action in less than one second.”
The efficacy of Waabi’s technology stems from its use of sophisticated algorithms that simulate countless scenarios to test the vehicle’s responses. Waabi’s approach puts safety and efficiency first. It’s different from other approaches that depend on clocking miles and burning fuel on actual roadways to collect data. “Whether it’s a home unit or something portable, safety becomes a big concern in extreme climates,” said Sidney Givigi. He highlighted the undeniable importance of adaptive technology to assist drivers and keep them safe.
With a team of around 200 employees, Waabi has garnered significant attention and financial support from prominent partners such as Uber, Nvidia, Volvo, and Porsche. The rapidly growing startup has now raised a whopping $375 million in funding to help achieve its mission of commercializing robot trucking.
Rich Steiner, a spokesperson for Waabi, touted the advantages of their autonomous trucks. As he put it, “Our robot trucks don’t get fatigued or donuts.” This reliability is indispensable for the logistics sector that, when combined with driver fatigue and distraction, are just a hair’s breadth away from deadly disasters.
Waabi is also aiming to start commercial deployments of its self-driving trucks on public streets in the next few years. Takeaways Aurora’s commitment to safety and innovative technology positions it as a leader in the autonomous vehicle space. And if you think Urtasun is excited about this field—let her tell you. As she put it, “For me, self-driving is not only the problem I work on — it’s an obsession. It’s 24-7 in my head.”
The trucking industry is deep and ripe for disruption, and Waabi looks like it has the players to stand up to that challenge. Urtasun echoed the sentiment of the industry’s preparedness, claiming, “The industry is ready for this technology. Waabi’s technology is becoming more advanced and the company’s operational reach is rapidly growing. This impressive progress clearly raises the bar on what should be expected going forward in freight transportation.
