Many experts believe that self-driving software is the ultimate artificial intelligence challenge. Nearly every vehicle manufacturer (OEM), many Tier 1 OEM suppliers and several transportation network companies (TNCs) are investing to develop self-driving vehicle technology.

The importance of having self-driving capability is so vital that companies are exploring multiple approaches, including internal research, Tier 1 partnerships, consortiums, and investments in independent AV startups.  Chris Urmson and Sterling Anderson started Aurora to be one of these external AV platform developers and they have already lined up several OEM customers.

Chris and Sterling will share their experience in starting a new company in this crowded sector - how Aurora is positioned and operating differently from other full stack self-driving players, how self-driving will create a new and better future, and what challenges this industry faces to achieve success.  They will comment on how technology, government, policy and business models will evolve to enable this new industry.

The speakers will each give keynote introductions and then participate in a moderated fireside chat to delve more deeply into how artificial intelligence and ACES (autonomous-connected-electric-shared) mobility will change society.

The program will be moderated by Mark Platshon, a 20 year serial CEO and now Managing Director of Icebreaker Ventures’ Autonomous World Fund which invests in electric, connected, autonomous and shared mobility technologies.