The video “How a Bunch of Geeks and Dreamers Jump-Started the Self-Driving Car” describes the early, ambitious attempts at creating driverless cars, starting with the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge in the Mojave Desert.

Despite initial failures, subsequent challenges in 2005 and the urban-focused 2007 event saw significant advancements.

Key figures like Sebastian Thrun and technologies like machine learning and LiDAR played a crucial role. The challenges fostered a community that propelled the industry, leading to today’s advancements in self-driving technology.

Check out this video on wired.com