Waabi’s self-driving technology set to be road-tested, Raquel Urtasun tells Globe and Mail, Forbes

The University of Toronto’s Raquel Urtasun, a leading expert in machine learning and computer vision, is taking her startup’s self-driving technology for long-haul trucks out for a spin, with several autonomous vehicles ready to hit the road in the United States, according to reports.

The CEO and founder of Waabi told the Globe and Mail that a handful of trucks are “ready to be deployed” with human drivers and engineers on-board for safety. In Forbes magazine, Urtasun – a professor of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and faculty member at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence – said that Waabi will train the self-driving system to navigate any number of virtual scenarios using a simulator that harnesses the full power of AI.

She added that the approach gives Waabi an advantage over bigger competitors since it’s more efficient – and effective – than relying on real-world testing. 

“Because we can do everything on the simulator we are already ready with a generation that is much more advanced,” Urtasun told the magazine.

Waabi emerged from stealth mode in June 2021 after raising more than $100 million in funding from Silicon Valley giants such as Khosla Ventures and Uber, as well as AI luminaries including U of T's Geoffrey Hinton, a University Professor Emeritus and Sanja Fidler, an associate professor of computer science.

Read more in the Globe and Mail

Read more in Forbes

Originally published on U of T News.

Graduation Spotlight: Shannon Komguem

Shannon Komguem
Computer Science major, Mathematics minor, Statistics minor
Woodsworth College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

Honestly, what attracted me to U of T is that it’s in the middle of downtown. I grew up in the Greater Toronto Area and always wanted to live in and explore the heart of the city, and U of T seemed like the perfect school to do that.

What inspired you to study computer science?

Growing up I had always enjoyed math and science, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue them in university. In grade 11 I took my first CS course and I remember being so fascinated by how you could use maths and logic to write code that solves complex problems. That was definitely my favourite course in high school and it’s the reason I decided to study CS.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

I always say that one of my favourite parts of the Department of Computer Science is the professors. Many of my most formative opportunities in computer science (such as TAships and research opportunities) have been thanks to professors seeing a potential in me that I didn’t see in myself. I maintain that having their support these last four years has helped me gain confidence in myself as a computer scientist and feel grateful to have had such caring professors through my undergraduate studies.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

In my first year I was a First Year representative for the CSSU and in my second I was a part of the U of T chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Since second year, I’ve been a DCS student ambassador. This is one of my favourite extracurricular activities since it involves attending first-year and high school outreach events where I can chat with current and potential students and answer their questions about U of T.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

In general, my favourite memories at U of T are the times I got to meet and spend time with fellow students outside of class. Through activities such as NSBE, DCS Ambassadors, First and Second Year Learning Communities, and the Technology Leadership Initiative, I’ve met a lot of cool people and shared memorable moments with them.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

The most important advice I could give myself is to focus on my own growth and to stop comparing myself to my peers. When I started measuring my success in terms of personal progress rather than using others’ achievements as a benchmark, it made it easier for me to be proud of the things I had accomplished, regardless of how big or small they might seem to others.

What’s next for you?

In September, I’ll be working on the Xcloud gaming product at Microsoft as a software engineer. I have also been accepted to the computer science master's program at Stanford University and am considering starting a master's degree in September of 2023.

Graduation Spotlight: Matthieu Chan Chee

Matthieu Chan Chee
Computer Science specialist (focus in AI), Statistics minor, Mathematics minor
St. Michael’s College

Why did you choose U of T for your undergrad?

I am from a small island in the Indian Ocean called Mauritius and aspired to come to Canada to further my passion for computer science while gaining new perspectives, both in the tech industry and from people coming from all around the world to study here. Toronto being one of the most prominent tech hubs in Canada, U of T was a natural first choice.

What inspired you to study computer science?

I love mathematics and found it truly beautiful how computer science allows us to apply math to the real world and build anything we want, with our sole limitation being our imagination.

Who or what at U of T influenced your education the most?

I would like to mention 3 factors that played a huge role during my time at U of T. Firstly, I would have never been able to afford studying at U of T if it were not for the Pearson Scholarship and am deeply grateful to the scholarship program and the team behind it. Second are some of my professors and TAs who were truly passionate about their field and who put in so much effort to give students an amazing learning experience. Third are my friends through whom I learnt different ways of thinking, be it inside or outside the classroom.

How did you get involved at U of T outside of your coursework?

I was a TA for MAT136 (Calculus) during my 2nd year and truly enjoyed interacting with my students during tutorials! I also worked on object detection models at aUToronto (U of T's self-driving car team), which came out champions of North America at the SAE International AutoDrive Challenge and I was part of U of T's team which came out world champions at the ProjectX 2020 machine learning research competition. Outside of academics, I was an Orientation leader for St. Michael’s College, led kung-fu training at U of T's Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Club, and was U of T's Head of Delegation at CUSEC 2021, the Canadian University Software Engineering Conference.

What U of T memory do you treasure the most?

I've made some really good friends at U of T and what I treasured the most was simply hanging out with them.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your undergraduate degree, what would it be?

Don't be afraid to (1) try new things, and (2) say you don't know/understand something. More often than not, people around you will be happy to help, or at least point you in the right direction.

Is there a lesson you learned as an undergraduate student that you’ll take with you moving forward?

The only way of making 100% sure you'll fail is if you don't try.

What’s next for you?

I am very excited to say I'll be joining AMD to work full-time on deep learning!