Later this morning, autonomous truck technology company Kodiak is going to begin trading on the NASDAQ after completing a spa transaction. It's changing its name to Kodiak AI. And joining us right now on the potential benefits of AI powered trucking, that means trucks that are driving themselves, is Kodiak's founder and CEO, Don Bernett.And Don, thanks for being here today. Thanks for having me. Um, I did not realize how these things are already on the roads, at least down in Texas at this point.Why don't y ...

Core Insights - Gatik and Loblaw are expanding their autonomous truck operations in the Toronto area, transitioning from pilot to commercial scale with a significant increase in the number of autonomous vehicles (AVs) deployed [8] - The partnership aims to enhance logistics efficiency by delivering food and household items to 300 retail locations across nine municipalities [3][4] - Ontario has initiated a 10-year pilot program to oversee automated commercial vehicle technology, allowing Gatik's trucks to operate safely on all surface streets and highways [5] Company Developments - Gatik will deploy 20 AVs this year and plans to increase that number to 30 by the end of 2026, operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week [8] - The partnership is backed by a five-year deal with investment from Loblaw, indicating strong corporate support for autonomous logistics [4] - Gatik's CEO highlighted this expansion as a significant milestone for major retailers transitioning to commercial-scale autonomous truck operations [8] Industry Trends - Other AV companies, such as Aurora Innovation and Waabi, are also expanding their operations in the U.S., particularly in states like Texas, which has a favorable regulatory environment for AV testing [6][7] - The trend towards autonomous logistics is gaining momentum, with companies looking to enhance delivery efficiency and reduce reliance on human drivers [4][6]