The Tech Behind Waymo's Uber Lawsuit

Waymo, formerly Google's self-driving unit, investigated a potential theft of Lidar technology by Otto, a company founded by former Google employee Anthony Levandowski. This led to a lawsuit, highlighting a shift in Google's approach to former employees. The case reflects the competitive landscape in autonomous vehicles, with companies like Tesla and Uber emerging as rivals. Uber's acquisition of Otto surprised its own autonomous unit, revealing internal tensions.

What sparked the internal investigation at Waymo?

Who is Anthony Levandowski and what role did he play in the lawsuit?

What was unprecedented about Google's actions towards former employees?

How did the acquisition of auto by Uber come as a surprise?

What tensions existed within Uber's autonomous driving unit after the acquisition?