Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc., is one of several companies testing driverless vehicles in the U.S. Automakers are also developing self-driving technology, but it still requires human drivers to take over when required. Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc., is one of several companies testing driverless vehicles in the U.S. Automakers are also developing self-driving technology, but it still requires human drivers to take over when required. If you're taking a lot of road trips this holiday season, maybe you've wished your car could just drive itself to Grandma's house. The auto industry has been working on autonomous driving for years. And companies like Waymo and Cruise are testing fully autonomous driving -- in some cities, you can already hop in a driverless taxi.

Self-driving car technology is at a crucial juncture. While self-driving technology is getting more advanced every year and not only the automotive industry, but even the technology industry is interested in it, the legal framework for self-driving technology hasn't matched up yet. Google parent Alphabet Inc. has reportedly appointed Tekedra Mawakana as its new vice president of public policy and government affairs to help navigate the tumultuous government policy on the subject. "As we take fully self-driving cars to the roads, Tekedra will work with policymakers at all levels to realize the enormous safety, mobility and economic benefits of this technology," John Krafcik, CEO, Waymo, Google's self-driving project, told Recode on Monday. Mawakana has experience in handling government policy affairs at various companies.

X is the "moonshot factory" for Google parent Alphabet Inc.--a place to work on projects, like autonomous vehicles, that have the potential to radically reshape the world. To get insights into how the operation works, and why it celebrates failure, The Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Blumenstein spoke with Astro Teller, captain of the factory. Here are edited excerpts of their conversation. BLUMENSTEIN: How do you decide which projects to tackle? TELLER: There has to be some huge problem with the world that we can name and say that we're excited about going to tackle.

Apple Inc. hired a prominent artificial intelligence researcher from Carnegie Mellon University as it seeks to regain lost ground against competitors such as Google, Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com He posted a link to an Apple job application page seeking machine learning specialists. Apple is seeking scientists with "experience in Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Optimization, and/or Data Mining," it said in the job listing. So you can sleep an extra five minutes. Travel with us, drive with us, eat with us – around the world.