Wayve and WMG Lead a Conversation on Safe AI at Autonomy Mobility World Expo in Paris

At the Autonomy Mobility World Expo in Paris, Dr Sarah Gates, Director of Public Policy at Wayve, and Dr Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy, WMG, the University of Warwick, participated in a panel discussion on “Safe AI for Driving,” which explored the latest developments in AI to handle the long-tail of driving problems to develop a safe automated driving system and build public trust in this technology.

The panel brought together experts from Wayve, WMG, and the JRC to discuss the importance of collaboration between industry, government, and academia in ensuring the safe deployment of AI in automated driving. This collective effort is seen as key to unlocking the global and scalable benefits of self-driving technology.

One of the critical points highlighted by Dr Gates was the need for AI to overcome the limitations of traditional approaches to self-driving technology. Wayve’s innovative AV2.0 approach, which focuses on an end-to-end AI system, addresses these long-tail challenges, positioning AI as the cornerstone for building trust in autonomous driving.

Dr Khastgir of WMG further emphasized the challenges in verifying and validating the safety of AI in these systems, stressing the need for more evidence-based approaches to guide future AI regulation and policy. He pointed out the high safety standards already in place for automotive systems, but also the need for agreed validation methods that can build confidence in AI’s use.

The panel also introduced the DriveSafeAI project, a collaborative effort between Wayve and WMG, funded by the UK’s Centre for Connected and Automated Vehicles. This project aims to develop novel safety methods for self-driving vehicles and create a robust evidence base to support future international regulations and policies.

As Dr Gates concluded, this collaboration between industry and regulators is essential to harmonizing methods and approaches for ensuring AI safety, ultimately leading to greater public confidence in self-driving technology and the many benefits it promises to deliver.