Alphabet’s Waymo has bought Latent Logic, which has developed imitation learning-powered simulators to train autonomous vehicles.

Latent Logic, a UK-based highway behaviour simulation software spinout of University of Oxford, has been bought by internet and technology group Alphabet’s self-driving car business Waymo for an undisclosed sum, TechCrunch reported on Thursday. Founded in 2017, Latent Logic creates computer simulators for training autonomous vehicles. Powered by a variant of machine learning called imitation learning, the simulators are designed to learn the imperfect tendencies of motorists and pedestrians in order to more accurately model genuine highway behaviours. Latent Logic’s co-founders include its chief scientist Shimon Whiteson, professor of computer science at University of Oxford, who is expected to join Waymo along with other members of the spinout’s management and workforce. The business will remain in Oxford, where Waymo plans to site its first Europe-facing engineering hub, on the way to multiplying its headcount in the UK and on the continent. Waymo’s recent activity has included industry partnerships with carmakers Renault and Nissan for commercial projects in France and Japan, including plans for an autonomous transit route in Paris. Latent Logic does not appear to have disclosed details of earlier funding, although it is a portfolio company of University of Oxford’s university venturing fund – Oxford Sciences Innovation. Whiteson said: “By joining Waymo, we are taking a big leap towards realising our ambition of safe, self-driving vehicles. In just two years, we have made significant progress in using imitation learning to simulate real human behaviours on the road. “I am excited by what we can now achieve in combining this expertise with the talent, resources and progress Waymo have already made in self-driving technology.”

Subscribe to go deeper

GCV subscribers get access to all our proprietary data and deep-dive articles, as well as the global directory of CVC investors.



Not sure if you have a subscription?