In this episode of Overdrive – Cars, Transport, Culture, David Brown is joined once again by motoring expert Paul Murrell from SeniorDriverAus.com to unpack the latest developments from the world of transport and automotive innovation.

News Highlights:

Autonomous Vehicle Emissions – An MIT study warns that the computing power required for self-driving cars could one day rival the energy consumption of today’s global data centres, unless hardware efficiency dramatically improves.

Light Truck Safety – ANCAP’s first-ever safety assessment of popular light trucks such as the Isuzu N-Series and Hino 300 Series reveals shortcomings in occupant protection and advanced safety features, despite their increasing road presence.

Cupra Tavascan – The Spanish-branded but Chinese-built EV earns four ANCAP stars, falling short in Safety Assist due to the absence of certain European-standard features in the Australian version.

UK Tariff Relief – A new Trump-led tariff cut could revitalise UK car exports, especially for Jaguar Land Rover, just as it prepares for its EV relaunch.

GM Celestiq – A bold move into the Rolls-Royce segment, GM reveals the Celestiq: an ultra-luxury, hand-built electric sedan with 42 speakers, adaptive glass roof, and virtual development tech.

Ferrari’s Electric Future – The iconic Italian marque sets a date for its first EV (October 2026) and patents technology to simulate the sound and feel of petrol-powered cars, aiming to preserve its legacy in a new electric era.

Toyota Tundra Platinum – Toyota adds a luxury twist to its full-size pickup lineup, combining rugged capability with premium features like massaging seats and a JBL sound system.

Discussion Point:
David explores the “Expertise Deficit” in public sector transport planning, highlighting a shift toward generalist management that undervalues deep, domain-specific knowledge—posing risks to effective infrastructure policy and procurement.

Road Test:
We get behind the wheel of the Mazda BT-50, examining its performance, features, and suitability for Australian conditions.

As always, you can find extended versions of our program, visuals, and more content across our platforms—just search for Cars Transport Culture on your favourite podcast app or social media.

First broadcast on 17 May 2025 on 99.3FM and syndicated nationally via the Community Radio Network.

Overdrive: Emissions, Safety, Electric Dreams – and the Disappearing Expertise

Our guests on this episode are Laura Major, CEO of Motional, and Sankaet Pathek, founder and CEO of Foundation.

Cohost Mike Oitzman interviews Laura Major, CEO of Motional, about its advancements in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. Major discusses Motional's focus on AI and machine learning, emphasizing the shift from technical to business leadership. 
They have conducted pilot activities in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh, focusing on diverse environments to enhance their AV's generalizability. Major highlights the importance of simulation in development, combining it with real-world testing. 
Motional's AVs are electric, leveraging the Ionic 5 platform for efficiency. 
They have a strong safety record, with no at-fault accidents over 2 million miles. 
Regulatory frameworks vary by state, but they collaborate with local and state officials to improve deployment.
Learn more about Motion: https://motional.com/

In a conversation with Sankaet Pathek, the founder and CEO of Foundation, discusses the mission and vision behind his humanoid robot company. He shares insights into his background, the challenges and opportunities in the robotics industry, and the innovative technologies being developed at Foundation. 
The conversation highlights the importance of building a capable team, the focus on practical applications of humanoid robots, and the unique technological advancements that differentiate Foundation from competitors. 
In this conversation, Sankaet discusses the current state and future of humanoid robotics, focusing on automation in manufacturing, the integration of AI, safety considerations, and the challenges of scaling production. 
He emphasizes the importance of data in training AI models and the need for reliable hardware and software to ensure safety. Sankaet also shares insights on navigating the venture capital landscape and achieving cost efficiency in humanoid robots, while reflecting on the challenges of startup life.
Learn more about Foundation: https://foundation.bot/

Please like, subscribe, and share the show with a colleague.


The Road Ahead for Robotics: Insights from Motional's Major and Foundation's Pathak

If you’ve driven in Atlanta since April 2024, you’ve likely seen retrofitted Jaguar I-Pace vehicles navigating the streets without a driver behind the wheel. These robotaxis, operated by Waymo in partnership with Uber, are now available to passengers within a 65-square-mile area in the city. 

 

Atlanta is one of five cities in the U.S. to have access to the new ride option, but with plans to expand to seven by 2026, are the roads and riders ready for an autonomous future?

 

In the latest episode of Generating Buzz, Srinivas Peeta — director of the Autonomous and Connected Transportation Lab and the Frederick R. Dickerson Chair and Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering — shares his expertise on how Waymo’s systems differ from other vehicle manufacturers, how social media influences adoption of the new technology, and what comes next.

Generating Buzz: Your Driverless Ride Has Arrived

Welcome to **AI with Shaily**! 🎙️ Hosted by Shailendra Kumar, a passionate AI practitioner and author, this show dives deep into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, making complex tech topics easy to understand and practical for listeners.

In this episode, Shaily takes you on a thrilling ride inside the world of autonomous vehicles 🚗💨, focusing on how self-driving cars are evolving to navigate the chaotic and unpredictable urban jungle. Imagine yourself behind the wheel of a car that not only reacts but *predicts* the movements of pedestrians, vehicles, and sudden obstacles using cutting-edge sensor fusion technology. This means combining data from cameras, LiDAR, radar, and more to create a rich, real-time understanding of the environment.

The big leap? Moving beyond rigid, rule-based programming to smart machine learning models that continuously learn and improve. These systems get better with every mile driven and simulated test, handling tough conditions like fog 🌫️, rain 🌧️, and noisy sensor inputs that used to confuse autonomous cars. It’s like teaching a car to master a skill faster and more accurately than humans can.

Shaily shares a personal story about the early challenges of trusting machines to take the wheel and how today’s data-driven AI methods are bridging that trust gap. This progress is not just theoretical; it’s gaining recognition in prestigious places like the International Journal of Vehicle Design and sparking conversations on social media as of mid-2025.

For AI enthusiasts and developers, Shaily offers a golden nugget of advice: focus on integrating multiple sensor inputs rather than relying on just one. This fusion is the “secret sauce” 🥫 for building robust autonomous systems that can handle the unpredictable nature of real-world environments.

Before signing off, Shaily poses a thought-provoking question 🤔: As AI gets better at predicting and avoiding obstacles, how might this influence the design of future urban spaces? He invites listeners to share their thoughts and engage in the conversation.

To inspire everyone, Shaily quotes the legendary Alan Turing: *“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”* This perfectly captures the exciting journey of autonomous obstacle avoidance—a journey that’s well underway.

Don’t miss out on more insightful AI discussions—follow Shailendra Kumar on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium. If you enjoyed the episode, hit subscribe and join the growing community of AI learners and innovators.

Thanks for tuning in to **AI with Shaily**! Stay curious, keep learning, and see you next time! 🤖✨

AI with Shaily: The Future of Self-Driving Cars and Smarter Obstacle Avoidance

Welcome back, everyone! 🎧 You’re tuned into *AI with Shaily,* hosted by Shailendra Kumar, where we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Today’s episode is all about a hot topic that’s got everyone talking—self-driving cars and whether we can truly trust them. 🚗🤖

Imagine stepping into your autonomous vehicle, ready for a smooth, hands-free ride, when a calm, familiar voice greets you—one that matches your gender and sounds like someone you know. Sounds comforting, right? A recent University of Michigan study revealed that when the voice of a self-driving car aligns with the driver’s gender and feels familiar, trust levels soar. It’s not just about the tech being reliable; it’s about creating an emotional bond, making the car feel like a trustworthy co-pilot instead of a cold, impersonal machine. 🗣️❤️

But trust goes beyond just voice personalization. Even though self-driving technology promises improved safety, many people remain skeptical. Concerns about system failures and hacking risks are common—and understandably so. Would you really hand over full control to a machine without transparency? Experts stress the importance of sharing clear safety data, comparing autonomous vehicle incidents with those involving human drivers to help ease fears. 📊🔒

Here’s an interesting insight: emotional trust in autonomous vehicles (AVs) is deeply tied to personal identity. For instance, self-proclaimed “car experts” tend to be more cautious about AVs. Simply making controls user-friendly doesn’t automatically increase trust. It turns out that human psychology plays a complex role in how we accept these futuristic rides. 🧠🚘

The younger generation, Gen Z, offers a revealing perspective. Nearly two-thirds of young drivers aren’t quite ready to embrace AVs, citing concerns about hacking and technical flaws. Yet, about one-third are optimistic and willing to try driverless cars. Even geography influences trust—urban and rural residents often have differing views on the technology. 🌆🌄

On the practical side, companies like Waymo are expanding their autonomous fleets, showing promising progress. Meanwhile, Tesla’s robotaxi trials are under intense scrutiny by regulators following some high-profile incidents, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the field. 🛣️⚖️

So why does all this matter? Because trust in self-driving cars isn’t just about algorithms or sensors—it’s about bridging an emotional and cognitive gap. Simple measures like personalized voices and openly sharing safety records can transform hesitant passengers into confident riders. 🤝✨

Here’s a bonus tip for anyone curious about AVs: start engaging with the technology gradually. Take test rides, explore virtual demos, and follow credible safety data releases. Trust builds with familiarity, and the more you interact thoughtfully, the more comfortable you’ll feel with these incredible machines. 🎮🚘

To wrap up, let me share a wise thought from AI pioneer Alan Turing: “We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” Building trust in AI, including self-driving cars, is a journey—one careful step at a time. 🕰️🔍

Don’t forget to connect with me, Shailendra Kumar, on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium. Join the conversation, share your thoughts on self-driving cars, and hit subscribe so you never miss the latest AI insights. Drop your comments—I love hearing from you! 💬👍

Thanks for tuning in to *AI with Shaily.* Until next time, keep wondering, keep questioning, and keep exploring the amazing world of artificial intelligence! 🤖🌟

Trusting the Wheel: Can We Really Rely on Self-Driving Cars?

This is a blog overview. Explore how Foretellix with integrations from NVIDIA or Parallel Domain seamlessly turns real-world driving data into richly detailed, scalable neural reconstructions. Replay, vary, and validate rare edge cases faster & more reliably.

Unlocking Scalable Neural Reconstruction for AV Development

Middle East AI News by Carrington Malin brought to you by Qualcomm – Qualcomm is expanding its footprint and partnering with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance its digital transformation vision through AI and next-generation technologies – powered by innovation, strong alliances, and a shared commitment to Vision 2030. In this podcast: Abu Dhabi driverless pods to launch this year; Qatar launches AI for Good startup challenge; IBM and nybl team up on industrial AI

Sign-up for the weekly email news digest here:
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Middle East AI News by Carrington Malin brought to you by Qualcomm – Qualcomm is expanding its footprint and partnering with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance its digital transformation vision through AI and next-generation technologies – powered by innovation, strong alliances, and a shared commitment to Vision 2030. In this podcast: WeRide launches robotaxi pilot in Ras Al Khaimah; Morocco’s UM6P unveils Smart Factory Academy; Qatar Customs adopts AI-powered documents system.

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#MiddleEastAINews

WeRide launches robotaxi pilot in Ras Al Khaimah

Middle East AI News by Carrington Malin brought to you by Qualcomm – Qualcomm is expanding its footprint and partnering with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to advance its digital transformation vision through AI and next-generation technologies – powered by innovation, strong alliances, and a shared commitment to Vision 2030. In this podcast: MBZUAI and MIT launch joint AI research push; Moroccan startup Juridia brings AI to legal system; Egypt approves IoT services for connected cars

Sign-up for the weekly email news digest here:
https://www.middleeastainews.com

#MiddleEastAINews

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Middle East AI News by Carrington Malin brought to you by Qualcomm – delivering end-to-end AI solutions by enabling edge AI on cameras and legacy systems, and extending edge computing through AI PCs for seamless cloud integration. In this podcast: Saudi Arabia opens applications for autonomous vehicle firms; GO Telecom to launch Saudi–Pakistan AI innovation hub; UAE GCAA unveils new AI aviation projects in Montreal

Sign-up for the weekly email news digest here:
https://www.middleeastainews.com

#MiddleEastAINews

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The Middle East AI News Minute gives you a daily one-minute daily briefing on the top AI-related stories coming out of the Middle East. If you are a busy technology, business or government leader who want to get a quick update, then this is the podcast for you.

Unlock the secrets of data mastery with Shailendra, a 27-year veteran in AI, ML, and Data Science, driving AU$ 6 Billion in transformative value. As the author of 'Making Money out of Data,' their strategies redefine digital success. With expertise honed at IBM and Accenture, they drive innovation and data monetization. Explore how loyalty programs like Flybuys and Everyday Rewards revolutionize business—connect with Shaily today.

Overdrive: Cars, Transport and Culture.

A weekly radio program featuring motoring & transport news from Australia & around the world, road tests, feature interviews & quirky stories.

David Brown is a respected motoring broadcaster heard online and across Australia on commercial, public and community radio.

Join Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman each week for discussions with leading roboticists, innovative robotics companies, and other key members of the robotics community.

New tracks tagged #autonomous vehicles