Ride AI

Sophia Tung and James Gross
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Ride AI podcast presents cutting-edge insights and meaningful conversations with the world’s top mobility technology leaders so that you learn hard-won lessons of investment and innovation. Ride AI is hosted by Ed Niedermeyer an American author and analyst who focuses on the automotive industry and mobility innovation. Co-hosts include Horace Dediu, Oliver Bruce and James Gross.

  1. Inside DoorDash's Adorable 20mph Delivery Robot (w/ DoorDash VP of Autonomy Ashu Rege)

    10/13/2025

    Inside DoorDash's Adorable 20mph Delivery Robot (w/ DoorDash VP of Autonomy Ashu Rege)

    We do a deep dive into Dot, DoorDash's newly announced homegrown delivery robot, that has eyes, can talks, and is capable of speeds up to 20mph.

    58 min
  2. Inside The Biggest Robotaxi Deal To Date (w/ Nuro COO Andrew Chapin)

    08/17/2025

    Inside The Biggest Robotaxi Deal To Date (w/ Nuro COO Andrew Chapin)

    In this episode, we dive into the details of the Uber-Lucid-Nuro robotaxi deal, which could be the largest deal of its kind to date.

    37 min
  3. Transforming The World With Lidar (w/ Ouster CEO Angus Pacala)

    07/12/2025

    Transforming The World With Lidar (w/ Ouster CEO Angus Pacala)

    In this episode, we dive into the nitty gritty of what makes a good sensor and how lidar could transform urban traffic as we know it.

    48 min
  4. The Rise of Autonomous Racing (w/ AIPEX's Ed Bernardon)

    06/30/2025

    The Rise of Autonomous Racing (w/ AIPEX's Ed Bernardon)

    In this episode of the Ride AI podcast, we sit down with Ed Bernardon, Chief Racing Officer at AIPEX Racing, to explore the high-octane world of autonomous motorsport. From dispelling the myth that self-driving race cars are just glorified remote-control vehicles to unpacking the unique challenges of AI-driven competition, Ed offers an insider’s look into the future of racing. He breaks down the tech stack powering AIPEX's autonomous vehicles, discusses the parallels and divergences between human and AI drivers, and reveals why the drama behind the code might rival the thrill on the track. We also dive into why autonomous cars might someday outpace their human counterparts.

    1h 18m
  5. Delivering the Future with Ali Kashani of Serve Robotics

    05/28/2025

    Delivering the Future with Ali Kashani of Serve Robotics

    In this episode of the Ride AI Podcast, we sit down with Ali Kashani, CEO and co-founder of Serve Robotics, the company bringing AI-powered sidewalk delivery robots—with googly eyes—to city streets. Ali shares the origin story behind Serve's charming, efficient bots and explains why using a two-ton car to deliver a two-pound burrito simply doesn’t make sense. We dive into the rationale behind sidewalk robots versus road-based vehicles, the surprising stats about food delivery distances, and how Serve’s robots—some capable of 40 miles on a single charge—are redefining last-mile logistics. Ali also explains how the company maintains Level 4 autonomy with human-in-the-loop oversight and the unique challenges of operating in pedestrian-dense environments. Hear how Serve’s robots navigate public spaces with body language, what goes into scaling to cities like Dallas, Miami, and soon Atlanta, and why the future of delivery may depend less on bikes and more on scalable automation. Plus, Ali reveals unexpected revenue streams—from ad campaigns on robots to software licensing deals—and shares his dream cities for future deployment (spoiler: New York is high on the list).

    42 min
  6. Inside Lyft’s Autonomous Vehicle Strategy (w/ Jeremy Bird, EVP of Driver Experience)

    05/08/2025

    Inside Lyft’s Autonomous Vehicle Strategy (w/ Jeremy Bird, EVP of Driver Experience)

    In this episode, we explore Lyft’s evolving approach to autonomous vehicles and the future of rideshare. Rather than building its own L4 tech, Lyft is doubling down on its marketplace strengths—demand generation, rider experience, and fleet management—while teaming up with AV innovators like Mobileye. The company envisions a hybrid future where human drivers and AVs coexist, expanding the market rather than replacing people. We dive into how Lyft plans to support its diverse driver base—over two million strong annually—by creating new opportunities, such as turning today’s drivers into tomorrow’s AV fleet owners. Plus, we break down the economics of surge pricing, the complexities of fleet ops, and how Lyft compares to competitors like Uber and Waymo.

    33 min
  7. Navigating the Gig Economy (w/ Ryan Green of Gridwise)

    04/28/2025

    Navigating the Gig Economy (w/ Ryan Green of Gridwise)

    In this episode of Ride AI, we dive into the fast-evolving intersection of autonomy, gig work, and delivery economics. Our guest, Gridwise founder and CEO Ryan Green, joins to discuss why autonomous vehicles won't spell the end for human gig workers — at least not yet.

    45 min
  8. Cost Per Mile and the Road to Autonomous Trucking (w/ Xiaodi Hou of Bot Auto)

    04/23/2025

    Cost Per Mile and the Road to Autonomous Trucking (w/ Xiaodi Hou of Bot Auto)

    In this episode, we dive into the gritty reality of autonomous trucking with Xiaodi Hou, founder of Bot Auto, a Level 4 freight-hauling company that's rewriting the playbook on autonomy. While much of the industry chases glossy tech demos and futuristic hype, Bot Auto is quietly building a cost-efficient, scalable logistics operation—one truckload at a time.

    39 min
See All (245)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Ride AI podcast presents cutting-edge insights and meaningful conversations with the world’s top mobility technology leaders so that you learn hard-won lessons of investment and innovation. Ride AI is hosted by Ed Niedermeyer an American author and analyst who focuses on the automotive industry and mobility innovation. Co-hosts include Horace Dediu, Oliver Bruce and James Gross.

Information

  • Creator
    Sophia Tung and James Gross
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sophia Tung and James Gross
  • Show Website
    Ride AI