There’s nothing worse than an almost perfect machine. If a self-driving car misbehaves consistently, users will know not to trust it. But if it works right 99.99% of the time, by the time it fails, most lazy humans will have given up on closely monitoring it. Professor Missy Cummings knows exactly how high those stakes can be — having famously served as one of the U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots, before moving on to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and now serving as Director of George Mason University’s Autonomy and Robotics Center.
In today’s episode, we dive deep into what she sees as the hidden dangers lurking behind many AVs: humans that are too quick to trust fallible machines, too much latency between vehicles and their remote operators, incomplete regulations and a desire to keep costs in check. (These are topics so important that we’ll be revisiting them at Curbivore in April, where we’re bringing together regulators from the CPUC, alongside AV and delivery bot leaders.)
Also on the pod, Greg, Sela and I dive into London’s novel microhub alliance, Florida’s senile new speed limits, delivery cos pushing into physical AI, high gas prices and more. Listen in!
Curbivore is just three weeks away, and we’re excited to share more of the iconic speakers joining us April 16 & 17 in Downtown Los Angeles. Hear from leaders pushing delivery robotics, micromobility, gig work, next-gen parking, and even the Olympic Games forward! Check out all our speakers, and secure your tickets now!
MEET THE LATEST PARTNERS JOINING US IN APRIL
As a global micromobility leader, Bird is making cities safer and more livable by reducing car trips and strengthening transportation ecosystems. We’re transforming the way the world moves one ride at a time.
Everee is the real-time payroll platform built for gig platforms, delivery operators, and on-demand workforces, so you can pay workers the moment a shift ends. With built-in compliance across all 50 states and cash flow support that removes the burden of fronting payroll, Everee helps you scale your workforce without the friction of legacy pay cycles.
HUB International is the largest privately held insurance brokerage in the United States, serving more than 2 million clients across commercial insurance, employee benefits, retirement, and wealth management. Our dedicated Physical AI practice insures companies building autonomous systems reshaping how goods and people move — from sidewalk delivery robots and autonomous trucks to advanced industrial robotics and humanoid platforms. HUB's Physical AI team brings deep technical fluency, purpose-built coverage structures, and carrier relationships designed for companies operating at the frontier of autonomy and last-mile delivery.
Y Risk is the innovation brand of The Hartford, delivering creative solutions for emerging business models and helping insure tomorrow’s economy.
Adway is redefining the future of out-of-home by turning everyday vehicles into dynamic, high-impact digital canvases. We empower fleet operators to unlock new revenue streams while giving brands a bold, mobile platform to captivate audiences in the real world.
Flex is the trade association that represents the app-based platform economy and the people who rely on it.
Sweetfin is a healthful, chef-driven, California inspired poke and plant based bowl concept that uses local produce, sustainable fish, and innovative ingredients. Our entire menu is gluten free and all of our menu items are made in-house, from scratch, daily.
Business-in-a-Box builds patented mobile stores. Our store models are branded retail solutions for businesses looking to stand out and connect with customers.
Christensen Group’s Future of Mobility Practice delivers specialized insurance and risk management solutions for the companies redefining how people and goods move. The practice supports shared mobility platforms, micromobility fleets, last-mile delivery operators, and autonomous vehicle and fleet developers, combining deep expertise in product liability, fleet risk, and emerging transportation technologies to build tailored insurance programs for the next generation of mobility companies.
The best clients deserve the best drivers. The best drivers deserve the best pay. Chauffeur by Courial. We’re excited to announce that Chauffeur by Courial is officially bringing our all-luxury ride-hailing and advanced booking platform to Los Angeles this April.
Goodie Bag is a mobile app based marketplace offering exclusive deals on quality unsold food from local shops. We help shops reach new customers and optimimze revenue, create more affordable options for consumers, and reduce food waste!
Obi is a global real-time aggregator that compares millions of pricing and pick-up (ETA) data points providing consumers and businesses with actionable data. The free consumer app allows riders to compare taxis, black cars and major rideshare providers instantly. Riders can search by car type, or pick up ETA and always book the lowest priced vehicle or quickest pickup. With over 1,400,000 global users, Obi has partnered with dozens of rideshare and taxi providers around the world to help provide transparency in ride fares. The app provides real-time pricing data across all the major rideshares including Uber, Lyft, Waymo, Tesla, Bolt, Curb, Indrive, Yango, Ola, Empower, Didi, Careem, Freenow, Grab and many more.
RELATED EVENTS & NEWS ROUND-UP
Open Mobility Mixer: Our friends at the Open Mobility Foundation are kicking off Curbivore with an industry mixer, open to anyone that cares about digital infrastructure, curb technology, and the future of cities. RSVP for 4/15.
HNGRY Live - Physical AI: Jonah Bliss joins Matt Newberg and leaders from Instacart and Gambit Robotics to discuss why everyone is suddenly hot for robotics and physical AI. Register for the 4/2 webinar.
Ride AI: Our friends at Ride AI reconvene on April 15, 2026, at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco. Register now and score a free Waymo ride!
NYC Mobility & Delivery Tech Happy Hour: Our buds at Electric Avenue are organizing the Big Apple’s best and brightest on 4/21.
PIE Show: Parking Today is hosting the all-new Parking Industry Expo in Dallas, 3/30-4/2, and they’re offering Curbivore subscribers a last-minute discount to attend. If you work in parking, curb management, or mobility, this one’s worth your time. PIE is built around editorially curated content (no sales pitches), meaningful connections, and topics that matter to mobility professionals every day. Use code CURBIVORE26 at checkout for 100% off a standard registration.
CDAT: The Catering, Delivery & Tech Expo, presented by The RMDA, brings together independent restaurant delivery operators, DSPs, and industry tech providers — a highly targeted audience of decision-makers actively shaping last-mile delivery, catering, and restaurant operations. March 30-31 in Vegas.
A few good links: CTA struggles with worker assaults. Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), looks to federalize AV rules. London’s Wheely brings luxury ridehailing to NYC. Zoox expands to Austin, Miami and more of SF. InDrive revenue climbs 31%. MOIA readies for LA launch (looks like Playa Vista in the bg.) WeRide heads to Slovakia. SMART preps for Healdsburg extension. Sony / Honda kill off Afeela EV, just in time for record gas prices! LA fiiiiinally gets speeding cameras. Chicago Cubs look to fill neighborhood with more parking. SCAG talks curb space management. Boston drags feet on new bus lanes.
Don’t forget to score your Curbivore tickets!
- Jonah Bliss & The Curbivore Crew
