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🚗 Waymo CRUISEs ahead
Waymo Speeds Ahead in Self-Driving Race | Stay inside and hydrate... there’s a heat wave ☀️
chrisnolansf
June 04, 2024
Today’s newsletter is 585 words - a 3-minute read (5-minute if you take your time…🐌)
Welcome back everyone!
Excited to have you join us: We’re Chris & Nolan (@chrisnolansf), and welcome to SF Whisper - a newsletter covering the most interesting business and local news of San Francisco.
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Anyways. Let’s get started -
Waymo Speeds Ahead in Self-Driving Race
Have you noticed more Waymo cars on the road?
While Uber's self-driving dreams crashed and burned, and Apple slammed the brakes on its autonomous ambitions, Waymo is zooming ahead. Born from Google's "Self-Driving Car Project," Waymo now offers driverless rides in Phoenix, San Francisco, and parts of Los Angeles. With 50,000 paid rides weekly, it's leading the race in making self-driving cars a reality.
Waymo's secret?
A slow and steady approach. This strategy has kept Waymo mostly out of trouble, unlike its competitors. Uber bowed out after a fatal accident, and Cruise was recently halted after a series of incidents. While Tesla's Elon Musk teases a robo-taxi reveal, Waymo’s already miles ahead with fully autonomous (Level 4) vehicles, compared to Tesla's driver-assist system (Level 2).
Looking Forward
With AI breakthroughs boosting capabilities, Waymo isn't just idling. Expansion plans are on the horizon, even as competitors gear up. From Amazon’s Zoox to traditional automakers and China’s rising tech stars, the race to dominate autonomous driving is far from over. But for now, Waymo has the green light.
Stay inside and hydrate… there’s a heat wave ☀️
Rapid Weather Shift: From Drizzle to Sizzle
Northern California is set for a dramatic weather shift within 24 hours, transitioning from drizzly skies to scorching 100-degree heat. An atmospheric river will bring up to an inch of rain to Del Norte and Humboldt counties on Monday, with lighter rain and thick clouds spreading across the region. However, by Tuesday afternoon, a strong high-pressure system will usher in sunny skies and the year's highest temperatures, with Sacramento, Fresno, and Fairfield potentially reaching 100 degrees. The heat will intensify on Wednesday, surpassing 105 degrees in much of the Central Valley before a coastal cooldown begins on Thursday.
Central Valley Heat Wave: Health and Fire Risks
The Central Valley faces the most severe heat, with the National Weather Service issuing an excessive heat warning from Tuesday morning to Thursday evening. Temperatures will soar to 100-109 degrees, significantly above normal, posing a major heat risk for those without proper cooling and hydration. Warm nights in the mid-60s to mid-70s will add to the danger. Fire weather risk is moderate due to dry, gusty winds, and air quality is expected to deteriorate due to high ozone levels. Relief will arrive by the weekend, with temperatures dropping below 100 degrees by Saturday. Meanwhile, the Bay Area will experience cooler coastal temperatures, though inland areas will still see highs near 90 degrees. Thunderstorms are expected in mountainous regions later in the week, potentially increasing fire risks due to dry lightning.
Catch up on the latest:
Today’s whisper:
The 70th anniversary of the North Beach Festival is back on June 15th and 16th.
Mark your calendars to enjoy live music, eat delicious gourmet food, and witness many gorgeous Italian street paintings called Madonnari.
