Wayve and WMG Discuss Safe AI for Self-Driving at MOVE Mobility Conference

At the MOVE mobility conference in London, Dr Sarah Gates, Director of Public Policy at Wayve, and Dr Siddartha Khastgir, Head of Safe Autonomy, WMG, the University of Warwick, engaged in a compelling fireside chat on envisioning safe AI for self-driving technology. Addressing a packed audience, they discussed the practical steps needed to tackle AI explainability and regulatory challenges within the mobility ecosystem.

The conversation covered several key topics, starting with the essential role of regulation in the development of AI for automated driving. Dr Gates emphasized the importance of legislation, using the UK’s AV Act as an example of how regulation can lay the groundwork for safe deployment and guide the creation of standards and guidelines.

Dr Khastgir then explored the ongoing debate about AI-specific regulations for automated driving. He highlighted the tension between innovation and regulation, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between the fast-evolving technology and the regulators’ understanding of AI complexities.

The discussion also touched on the UK’s cross-sectoral approach to regulation, with Dr Gates considering its benefits and whether other countries should adopt similar strategies. Additionally, the importance of data in training AI models was highlighted, with a focus on the potential for data sharing mechanisms to improve AI development.

Finally, the chat delved into AI explainability, where Dr Gates and Dr Khastgir discussed why it’s crucial for building trust in self-driving technology. They shared insights into ongoing research at Wayve on making AI systems more transparent and understandable, emphasizing that explainability is key to the successful deployment of AI in autonomous vehicles.