<p>This Week In Startups is made possible by:</p><p><br></p><p>Caldera + Lab - <a href="http://calderalab.com/TWIST" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://calderalab.com/TWIST</a></p><p><br></p><p>Crusoe Cloud - <a href="https://crusoe.ai/build" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://crusoe.ai/build</a></p><p><br></p><p>Uber - <a href="http://uber.com/twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://uber.com/twist</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Today’s show: </p><p><br></p><p>Why did a power outage in the Bay Area cause Waymos to pile up on city streets?</p><p><br></p><p>Jason was actually in San Francisco to take in the spectacle of Waymos blocking traffic. But why did this happen? And can we look forward to a day when automated cars are more graceful and coordinated than ballet dancers performing “Swan Lake”? We’re asking the tough (and also culturally erudite) questions!</p><p><br></p><p>PLUS self-driving cars are coming to London, Coinbase’s buying spree continues, another entrant in our nearly-complete Gamma Pitch Deck Competition, AND why Jason predicts that Google is going to buy UBER!</p><p><br></p><p>You won’t want to miss this holiday TWiST!</p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p><br></p><p>(00:00) It’s a holiday TWiST! Jason’s calling in from vacay in Lake Tahoe.</p><p><br></p><p>(03:11) Jason was in SF for the great Waymo power outage!</p><p><br></p><p>(06:06) Why Jason says one day Waymos will be better coordinated than dancers in “Swan Lake”</p><p><br></p><p>(07:33) We predicted Starlink coming to every Tesla nearly 3 years ago!</p><p><br></p><p>(09:05) Caldera + Lab: Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading your routine, Caldera Lab makes skincare simple and effective. Head to <a href="http://calderalab.com/TWIST" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://calderalab.com/TWIST</a> and use TWIST at checkout for 20% off your first order.</p><p><br></p><p>(11:29) Jason calls what Tesla’s Optimus team is planning “otherworldly”</p><p><br></p><p>(14:39) Why Jason thinks we’re all going to live in an “Opt-In Truman Show” someday soon</p><p><br></p><p>(18:52) Baidu, Lyft, and Uber bring self-driving cars to London… they don’t have them already?!</p><p><br></p><p>(20:49) Crusoe Cloud: Crusoe is the AI factory company. Reliable infrastructure and expert support. Visit <a href="https://crusoe.ai/build" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://crusoe.ai/build</a> to reserve your capacity for the latest GPUs today.</p><p><br></p><p>(24:02) When do we get to 50% of all rides being done by autonomous vehicles… and how many robotaxis will that take?</p><p><br></p><p>(27:50) Why Jason thinks Google is going to buy… UBER?!</p><p><br></p><p>(31:12) Uber AI Solutions: Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at <a href="http://uber.com/twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://uber.com/twist</a></p><p><br></p><p>(32:30) Will it eventually come down to which car can drive a mile for the cheapest?</p><p><br></p><p>(35:08) Coinbase picks up The Clearing Company, which makes frameworks for prediction markets</p><p><br></p><p>(39:50) How much did the biggest AI models improve this year?</p><p><br></p><p>(44:09) Who’s going to actually buy Warner Bros? We’re checking the Polymarket.</p><p><br></p><p>(47:06) GAMMA PITCH w/ Jonathan Sherman of Lumix Ads</p><p><br></p><p>(51:00) Why Jason says Jonathan’s pitch is a 9.5 out of 10</p><p><br></p><p>(52:50) What Jason looks for in a founder: “a big audacious vision”</p><p><br></p><p>(54:18) How Lumix (safely) collects users’ “mobile ad ID” on the go to identify them</p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/</p><p><br></p><p>Check out the TWIST500: https://twist500.com</p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp</p><p><br></p><p>*</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Lon:</p><p><br></p><p>X: https://x.com/lons</p><p><br></p><p>*</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Alex:</p><p><br></p><p>X: https://x.com/alex</p><p><br></p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm/</p><p><br></p><p>*</p><p><br></p><p>Follow Jason:</p><p><br></p><p>X: https://twitter.com/Jason</p><p><br></p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis/</p><p><br></p><p>*</p><p><br></p><p>Thank you to our partners:</p><p><br></p><p>(09:05) Caldera + Lab: Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading your routine, Caldera Lab makes skincare simple and effective. Head to <a href="http://calderalab.com/TWIST" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://calderalab.com/TWIST</a> and use TWIST at checkout for 20% off your first order.</p><p><br></p><p>(20:49) Crusoe Cloud: Crusoe is the AI factory company. Reliable infrastructure and expert support. Visit <a href="https://crusoe.ai/build" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://crusoe.ai/build</a> to reserve your capacity for the latest GPUs today.</p><p><br></p><p>(31:12) Uber AI Solutions: Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at <a href="http://uber.com/twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">http://uber.com/twist</a></p>