Key facts
- Uber has launched autonomous taxis in London in partnership with AI startup Wayve.
- The service allows customers to order autonomous vehicles through the Uber app.
- Wayve's technology uses an end-to-end neural network that learns to drive through experience.
- The vehicles are electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es modified with sensors.
- Transport for London has granted licenses for these vehicles, with a human driver required to be present.
- Uber and Wayve aim for a full public launch later this summer and plan to expand to Tokyo with Nissan.
Uber has launched autonomous taxis in London, marking the first deployment of automated driving technology to customers in Britain. The service is a collaboration with British AI driving startup Wayve, and customers can book these vehicles through the Uber app.
Wayve's approach utilizes an end-to-end neural network designed to learn and adapt like a human driver, theoretically allowing operation in any location without prior mapping. This contrasts with systems that rely on detailed pre-mapped routes. The vehicles, electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es, are equipped with sensors and have been granted private hire licenses by Transport for London, with the condition that a human driver must be present.
Uber and Wayve plan to offer rides to some of the 100,000 individuals who have expressed interest, with a full public launch anticipated later this summer. The companies also intend to expand their autonomous taxi service to Tokyo in partnership with Nissan later this year.
Wayve has raised over $1 billion from investors including Microsoft, Nvidia, and SoftBank, and is reportedly seeking an additional $2 billion in funding. The company's technology is designed to navigate complex urban environments, including London's notoriously challenging streets, which are characterized by narrow roads, unpredictable traffic, and pedestrians.