Waymo’s self-driving cars look futuristic — but what’s really happening behind the scenes may surprise you.

On Really? No, Really., Missy Cummings — former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, MIT-trained engineer, and one of the world’s leading AI and robotics safety experts — explains why true self-driving cars don’t actually exist yet, how human “remote operators” may be quietly stepping in, and the hidden technical flaws that keep autonomous vehicles from being as safe as advertised.

The conversation dives into phantom braking, transparency problems, Tesla’s camera-only approach, and why the hype around autonomy is racing far ahead of reality.

If you’ve ever trusted a robot car, ridden in a Waymo, or wondered where this technology is really headed, this episode will make you rethink everything.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices