I feel like some people have been using "most profitable areas" instead of saying dense urban areas and upset that it might take a while to reach rural and suburban areas. Is that what you are saying? What business is not in the business of pursuing the most plausible profitable direction first?
I think the general public has believed that self driving would arrive as some big bang moment where it just "worked" in 95%+ of environments where people drive. One morning there'd be an announcement it was cracked and then in six months you'd be able to buy a new car with it.
I don't think from either a business, technical or legal perspective google ever wants to sell or license their tech directly to a car being sold to the public.
They want to run a taxi service, they plan on running a taxi service, they're never going to sell it directly to consumers but they don't want consumers thinking about the implications of that.
They're just going to keep expanding Waymo in the background till it's ubiquitous.
Yes, I know they've said that. I don't believe them. Or rather even if they do sell them I think it will be at a point where their robo taxi's are complete ubiquitous already.
I think you mean their stated intent is to eventually make this technology available to own (I haven’t watched the video you linked but I’m going to charitably assume they say what you’re asserting).
I, and many others, are past the point of trusting their words.
