Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun Prioritizes Gen Z Talent for AI-First Future
Raquel Urtasun, co-founder and CEO of autonomous truck startup Waabi, emphasizes hiring Gen Z individuals for their raw adaptability and "AI-first" mindset. Urtasun, who previously worked with AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton and led Uber's self-driving division, views the reshaping of work by AI as an opportunity rather than a cause for fear. Waabi, launched in 2021, has secured over $1 billion in funding and is testing autonomous truck operations in partnership with Volvo, signaling a rapidly advancing driverless future.
Raquel Urtasun, co-founder and CEO of the autonomous trucking company Waabi, advocates for prioritizing Gen Z talent over industry veterans in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Urtasun, a Gen Xer herself, suggests that a fear of change can hinder adaptation, urging individuals to view AI advancements as a significant opportunity.
Waabi, an autonomous trucking unicorn, has raised more than $1 billion since its inception in 2021, including a recent Series C funding round co-led by Khosla Ventures. The company's autonomous trucks are currently undergoing road operations testing through a partnership with Volvo, aiming to accelerate the development of driverless technology.
Urtasun's hiring philosophy prioritizes raw adaptability and a willingness to learn over extensive industry experience. She believes that individuals with an "AI-first" mindset are crucial for driving transformation, rather than those with decades of conventional software engineering experience. This approach stems from her academic background, where she learned to identify and cultivate nascent talent.
Urtasun earned her Ph.D. in computer science from EPFL in Switzerland in 2006, followed by postdoctoral work at MIT and the University of California, Berkeley. She later became a professor at the University of Toronto, where she built a reputation for pioneering AI research and collaborated with Geoffrey Hinton. She also headed Uber's advanced technologies division starting in 2017 before founding Waabi in 2021.
Curiosity is highlighted as a core principle at Waabi, a mindset Urtasun attributes to her years working with students and observing how younger generations approach learning. She expresses optimism about the future of work for today's graduates, believing they possess unique tools to leverage the opportunities presented by the AI era.
According to Fortune, Urtasun sees the current period as one of the best times to be alive and a young worker, encouraging them to embrace the changes brought by AI.
