We know (from introspection) how trained skills work. Everyone knows the feeling when that bunch of neurons which you trained to semi-autonomously do something for you (e.g. switch gears, write letters, type words, observing traffic, staying in an imaginary lane etc.) raises their hand so that Daddy AGI (our conscious) can come have a look at that weird situation it doesn't know how to handle.
Tesla can't do that, either, and literally no one on this planet has the faintest idea how to do anything like it.
Tesla is focusing on data because they believe they can machine learn through the problem.
Waymo has a lot of data, but is also focusing on better sensors, augmenting them with maps, and ML perception feeding into more traditional programing doing the actual control and decision making.
It's kind of like Tesla and Waymo are both learning basket ball. Tesla believes that if it just plays a lot of games of basket ball, that is the best strategy. Waymo think that playing some games is good, but it should also do things like practice free throws and weight train.
Also, a few misconceptions:
1. Waymo currently only has public service in Arizona, AFAIK. However they are testing in San Fran, Seattle area, and Michigan. Easiest first doesn't mean later is impossible.
2. pre-mapping is NOT a blocker of automated service. Consider how much effort goes into making each section of road. Driving a car by a few times is a trivial cost in comparison. This is further shown by the fact that Google has been doing street view for well over a decade. Also I'd like to see Tesla demonstrate they can drive with the road covered in snow and still know where they are without a map.
3. CEO departures can be a red flag. They can also be a completely benign changeover, or even green flag that the board identified others would perform better in the CEO position. The leaving announcements are always fluff about spending time with family, so it's really hard to tell what's going on from the outside. If this is followed by more leadership leaving Waymo, then I'd be concerned.
Here's the interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0IuwH7eTZ3TQBfU8XsMaRr?si=6...
Eg, I wouldn't consider the stuff Tesla is doing as self driving at all. I have significant worry because to reduces attention while still requiring it for safety.
If you're talking "Hail robocab, don't touch a steering wheel, arrive at your destination", then Waymo is already there: https://blog.waymo.com/2020/10/waymo-is-opening-its-fully-dr...
You might mean "does everything everyone uses a vehicle for today", however I feel that's perhaps moving the goalposts to unattainable. Eg, replacing nascar racers with self driving cars would defeat the point of nascar, so that's won't happen. (though it might be an interesting side event.)
Between the two extremes of public pilot in limited area and handling every situation, there's a very large space for tremendous value. Just serving urban areas would significantly reduce the need for vehicles. There are many people who only use public transit, or could if they had more economical ways to handle sporadic trips such as grocery shopping and visiting friends across town.