The Driverless Digest Podcast

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. Transcripts are also available by clicking on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post on the app/web version. You can also access them from the email version by clicking here.
In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Peter Ludwig, co-founder and CTO of Applied Intuition. Peter shares how the company has evolved since its founding, the idea behind it, and its mission to accelerate the adoption of safe and intelligent machines worldwide. We also explore physical AI, how it differs from digital AI, and Applied Intuition’s partnership with HUMAIN.
Peter breaks down Applied Intuition’s work in autonomous trucking, including its partnerships, current deployments, plans for global scale, and what it will take to remove the safety driver and achieve fully driverless operations. He also explains the most common causes of failure in autonomous vehicle deployments, the role simulation plays in safely validating AV systems, and how much technology can transfer between different autonomous driving applications, such as trucks and robotaxis.
The conversation also covers end-to-end AI, Applied Intuition’s approach to commercializing and deploying the technology, and how the company works with partners to bring consumer products to market. Finally, Peter explains closed-loop simulation with reinforcement learning, reflects on lessons from nearly a decade in the industry, and shares his outlook on the future of autonomous vehicles.
Chapters
* (00:00) Introduction to Peter Ludwig
* (01:19) How the vision and operations at Applied Intuition have evolved from inception to today
* (03:54) Applied Intuition’s global footprint
* (04:16) Peter’s past work experience and the idea behind Applied Intuition
* (06:17) Applied Intuition’s mission
* (07:32) What is physical AI, and how does it compare to digital AI?
* (09:20) Applied Intuition’s partnership with HUMAIN
* (10:41) Details of Applied Intuition’s trucking vertical and how it will scale globally
* (14:00) Applied Intuition’s trucking partnerships and deployments
* (16:20) What it’ll take to remove the safety driver and achieve fully driverless operations
* (18:37) The most common causes of failure in AV deployments
* (20:25) The role of simulation in safely deploying AV systems
* (23:20) How much technology can transfer between different autonomous modalities, like trucking and robotaxis
* (26:50) Lessons learned from nearly 10 years of operations
* (29:12) End-to-end AI and Applied Intuition’s approach to commercializing and deploying it
* (31:09) Applied Intuition’s B2C approach and how it collaborates with partners to launch consumer products
* (33:15) Applied Intuition’s future plans and Peter’s outlook on the future of AVs
* (35:40) What is closed-loop simulation with reinforcement learning?
* (37:23) Conclusion and final thoughts
Notes/Links:
* You can find Peter Ludwig on LinkedIn.
* Applied Intuition’s website (link).
* Applied Intuition’s partnerships mentioned in the episode:
* HUMAIN, mentioned at the 9:20 timestamp (link, no paywall).
* Isuzu Motors, mentioned at the 14:14 timestamp (link).
* Stellantis, mentioned at the 31:17 timestamp (link).
* This partnership was extended in May 2026 (link).
* Applied Intuition’s SDS for Automotive, mentioned at the 29:51 timestamp (link).
-Harry


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. Transcripts are also available by clicking on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post on the app/web version. You can also access them from the email version by clicking here.
In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Frank Reig, CEO of Voltera. Frank explains how the merger between Voltera and Revel came together and how the combined company is building the infrastructure needed to support autonomous vehicle fleets at scale.
We discuss where the industry currently stands in the AV deployment timeline, what has surprised Frank since entering the fleet-charging space, and why AV infrastructure development often takes much longer than vehicle deployment. Frank also breaks down what goes into developing a full-stack AV depot, from finding suitable real estate and securing power to providing charging, maintenance, and operational support. He explains how Voltera evaluates potential locations, works with customers to plan their infrastructure needs, and differentiates itself from other charging and depot providers.
We also explore the operational challenges these facilities will face, how depots can adjust to shifting ride-hail demand, and what AV fleets could look like as they reach greater scale. Finally, Frank shares the trends he expects to shape AV infrastructure and what’s next for Voltera.
Chapters
* (00:00) Introduction to Frank Reig
* (01:45) The Voltera-Revel merger and how it came together
* (04:26) Voltera’s footprint, operating domain, and current focus
* (05:13) What phase are we in the AV deployment timeline?
* (06:38) What has surprised you since entering the AV fleet charging space?
* (07:30) What actually goes into setting up an AV depot?
* (10:04) How AV vehicle and infrastructure deployment timelines differ
* (10:43) How Voltera supports its AV fleet partners with full-stack AV depots, including charging, maintenance, and operations
* (12:04) The unexpected challenges of building out AV depots
* (13:21) What factors do you consider before developing an AV depot at a location?
* (16:01) How customers typically approach AV depot development with Voltera
* (17:30) The strategy behind selecting the best sites for AV depots
* (20:42) How Voltera stands out among its competitors
* (22:30) Potential challenges in AV depot operations
* (24:19) What Voltera does and what it doesn’t do
* (25:50) What will AV fleets of the future look like, and what are the benefits of scale?
* (28:02) Future trends in AV depot development
* (29:30) How AV fleet infrastructure adjusts for shifting ridehail demand
* (31:03) Voltera’s roadmap and future plans
* (32:10) Conclusion and final thoughts
Notes/Links:
* You can find Frank Reig on LinkedIn.
* Voltera’s website (link).
-Harry


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. Transcripts are also available by clicking on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post on the app/web version. You can also access them from the email version by clicking here.
In today’s episode, The Driverless Digest Editor Ben Hubbard speaks with Gautam Narang, CEO & co-founder of Gatik. Gautam explains what fuels his passion for autonomous trucking and introduces Gatik’s approach to driverless freight, including its current fleet, commercial deployments, and areas of focus. He also discusses Gatik’s contracted revenue and what differentiates the company from other autonomous trucking developers.
They take a closer look at why Gatik chose to focus on middle-mile, dock-to-dock routes and how its fleet management platform, Gatik Omni, allows customers to interact with and manage their autonomous freight operations. Gautam also breaks down the edge cases Gatik’s trucks encounter, some of the most complex scenarios they have successfully navigated, and the four core pillars underpinning the Gatik Driver.
Finally, they discuss how Gatik measures autonomous vehicle safety, the company’s safety record, and the current state of autonomous vehicle safety standards in the United States. Gautam also explains how autonomous trucks could help address the freight industry’s labor shortage, why Gatik has attracted significant investor interest, and how the company is approaching capitalization, customer partnerships, and contracted revenue. He closes by sharing what’s next for Gatik as it works to expand its fleet and scale driverless freight operations.
Chapters
* (00:00) Introduction to Gautam Narang and what fuels his passion
* (02:20) Introduction to Gatik, fleet size, driverless deployments, and focus areas
* (05:25) Gatik’s contracted revenue
* (06:30) How Gatik stands out from competition
* (07:45) How Gatik came to focus on middle-mile dock-to-dock operations
* (11:16) How Gatik’s fleet management platform, Gatik Omni, facilitates customer interaction
* (13:41) What kind of edge cases Gatik experiences, and how it handles them
* (18:35) What are the most complex scenarios Gatik’s trucks have dealt with well?
* (20:22) Gatik’s vehicles specifications
* (21:10) The four pillars of the Gatik Driver
* (24:07) How Gatik measures AV safety, and the current state of AV safety standards in the US
* (28:04) Gatik’s safety record and how the company assesses incidents
* (30:13) Filling the labor shortage in the freight industry with autonomous trucking
* (34:20) Investor interest in Gatik’s business, its capitalization, contracted revenue, and partners
* (36:25) Gatik’s future plans
* (37:30) Conclusion and final thoughts
Notes/Links:
* You can find Gautam Narang on LinkedIn and X.
* Gatik’s website (link).


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. Transcripts are also available by clicking on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post on the app/web version. You can also access them from the email version by clicking here.
In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Emily Warren, Deputy Secretary for Innovative Mobility Solutions at the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). Emily explains CalSTA’s role overseeing California’s transportation agencies, how the state balances innovation with regulation, and what she has learned since transitioning from the private sector into public service.
We also take a closer look at California’s newly updated autonomous vehicle regulatory framework, including how the DMV’s rulemaking process unfolded, what has changed, and how public feedback shaped the final regulations. Emily breaks down the respective roles of CalSTA, the DMV, and the California Public Utilities Commission in overseeing AV deployment, as well as how California approaches safety, data sharing, and coordination among local, state, and federal regulators.
Finally, we discuss what the new rules mean for robotaxis and autonomous trucks, how driverless trucking could scale in California, and where the state’s AV regulations may still need to evolve, including the possibility of personally owned autonomous vehicles.
Chapters
* (00:00) Introduction to Emily Warren
* (02:20) Background on CalSTA, the agencies they oversee, and Emily’s role
* (05:00) How CalSTA balances transportation innovation and regulation
* (07:05) What Emily has learned from transitioning from the private sector to public service at CalSTA
* (09:20) The roles of CalSTA, the DMV, and the CPUC in California’s AV permitting process
* (10:33) California’s new AV regulatory framework, how long it took, and what’s new
* (13:40) Public feedback on the new AV regulatory framework
* (16:46) Behind the scenes of the California DMV rulemaking process
* (21:01) The right cadence for reviewing California’s AV regulations
* (21:42) Areas for improvement in California’s AV regulations, including personal AV ownership
* (23:01) How AV trucking could scale in California
* (25:23) How CalSTA thinks about AV safety
* (29:25) The differences between AV trucks and robotaxis in the new AV regulations
* (32:56) AV regulation and coordination between the local, state, and federal regulators
* (37:30) Data sharing between cities and state regulators
* (40:04) Conclusion and final thoughts
Notes/Links:
* You can find Emily Warren on LinkedIn.
* CalSTA’s website (link).
* My podcast episode with CPUC Deputy Executive Director Pat Tsen, mentioned at the 09:24 timestamp (link).
* California’s new AV regulatory framework, mentioned at the 10:42 timestamp (link).
-Harry


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and Substack. Transcripts are also available by clicking on the “transcripts” button in the top right corner of this post on the app/web version. You can also access them from the email version by clicking here.
In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak AI. Don shares what has kept him motivated after more than a decade in the autonomous vehicle industry, why he remains confident in the future of AVs, and how the space has evolved from years of R&D into real-world commercialization.
We also dive into what Kodiak AI is building and its vehicle-agnostic physical AI approach, which spans long-haul trucking, industrial applications, defense, and more. Don explains why long-haul trucking remains such a large opportunity, what it will take to reach fully driverless operations at scale, and why highway-only autonomy isn’t enough to make the product viable.
Finally, we discuss the differences between highway and city-street autonomy, how Kodiak approaches proving safety, and what it has learned from earlier deployments. Don also shares his perspective on scaling KPIs, the competitive landscape, Kodiak’s experience as a public company, and whether autonomous trucking could ultimately be a larger market than robotaxis.
Chapters
* (00:00) Introduction to Don Burnette
* (01:30) What’s kept Don going in the AV space for over a decade
* (02:15) Why Don is confident in the future of AVs, and some of the challenges the industry faces today
* (04:09) How AVs have moved from R&D to commercialization
* (06:30) What Kodiak AI does
* (07:55) Kodiak AI’s generalized physical AI and how it’s vehicle agnostic
* (10:07) Kodiak AI’s verticals: including long-haul trucking, industrial trucking and defense
* (18:03) The role of robotaxis in propagating autonomy to the general public
* (19:50) Why long-haul trucking has a bigger total addressable market than industrial trucking
* (21:30) Steps to reaching full driverless operations in long-haul trucking, and how Kodiak AI is approaching it
* (23:44) Why highway-only autonomy isn’t enough
* (25:10) Highway vs. city-street autonomous driving
* (26:59) Public perception of accidents and proving the safety case in AV trucking vs. robotaxis
* (30:20) Learning from the experiences of earlier, broader AV deployments
* (33:10) Experience operating as a publicly listed company
* (34:50) KPIs for autonomous truck deployments and which ones Kodiak AI focuses on
* (37:42) Competition in the AV trucking space and Kodiak AI’s position
* (39:25) How individual incidents affect the general perception of autonomy
* (41:50) Is autonomous trucking’s total addressable market bigger than robotaxi’s?
* (43:41) Conclusion and final thoughts
Notes/Links:
* You can find Don Burnette on LinkedIn and X.
* Kodiak AI’s website (link).
-Harry


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thedriverlessdigest.com