> Yes, but... The issue of using Waymo as an example is that Waymo/Google bent the rules to achieve these numbers.
Why does it matter whether or not Waymo uses maps, so long as they can solve the problem of cheaper, safer, reliable transportation between point A and point B? Yes, L5 autonomy is significantly harder and has huge advantages, but true L4 autonomy (which I do not believe currently exists) is still revolutionary. You're completely focused on the robotics challenge without understanding that the actual problem is just getting someone where they want to go. If they can solve the problem, it's not cheating - they just figured out an easier way to do it.
That said, I think L4 is still more than a decade away from where it can compete with Uber and Lyft.
Why does it matter whether or not Waymo uses maps, so long as they can solve the problem of cheaper, safer, reliable transportation between point A and point B? Yes, L5 autonomy is significantly harder and has huge advantages, but true L4 autonomy (which I do not believe currently exists) is still revolutionary. You're completely focused on the robotics challenge without understanding that the actual problem is just getting someone where they want to go. If they can solve the problem, it's not cheating - they just figured out an easier way to do it.
That said, I think L4 is still more than a decade away from where it can compete with Uber and Lyft.