Tesla Insists Eyes-Only Driving AI Beats Waymo’s Robot Eye Candy
KEY POINTS
- •Tesla VP Ashok Elluswamy claimed in January 2026 that cameras alone suffice for autonomous driving, emphasizing AI over sensors.
- •Waymo’s VP Srikanth Thirumalai, responsible for 600 employees building onboard software, contrasted Waymo’s multi-sensor setup and higher safety bar.
- •Waymo’s robotaxis, equipped with dozens of sensors, are deployed in multiple US cities, aiming for fewer sensors but maintained safety by late 2026.
On January 29 at the ScaledML Conference, Tesla VP of AI Ashok Elluswamy declared cameras alone solve self-driving cars, claiming, 'It’s not a sensor problem, it’s an AI problem.' Meanwhile, Waymo’s Srikanth Thirumalai, overseeing 600 tech wizards and 2,500 robotaxis, laughed quietly from behind 29 cameras, 5 lidars, and 6 radars. Waymo plans to shrink this sensor army but still expects robotaxis with 13 cameras, 4 lidars, and 6 radars by late 2026. The bar? Waymo says 'higher than human driving,' because apparently humans are just driving around with beer goggles. Tesla’s spokesperson ghosted Business Insider like an unplugged Tesla at a charger station.
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Tesla wants to turn their cars into eyeball-powered ninjas while Waymo’s packing its rides with more sensors than a NASA spaceship. Safe? Depends how much you trust AI with camera vision and no helmet.
Tesla's cameras-only approach is basically asking AI to drive with headphones off and eyes closed. Waymo’s got the whole soundproof racing suite.
Watching Tesla debate driving tech is like seeing someone argue that microwave food beats a home-cooked meal—sure, but good luck with the sparks.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 2/8/2026 | Author: Lloyd Lee
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