Chess is a very complex rules game, while Checkers is quite simple. Waymo has a complex approach to self driving:

• Expensive suite of sensors
• High resolution maps of operating areas
• Remote operators standing by

While Teslas approach is simple:

• Capture a bazillion miles of camera footage, feed into AI, profit?
• Unpaid volunteers teach the AI safe driving
• Car has only a basic map for routing, the rest is inferred in real time from cameras

Waymo’s successful approach scales linearly. They have to high-res map every city they want to operate in, and they can gradually bring down the cost of the sensors. They will require fewer remote operator interactions over time.

Teslas success is more difficult, but it scales exponentially. They already produce vehicles at scale and full control over all the equipment on board. The existing fleet would be able to participate as well. If they succeed, they may want to offer buy-backs for customers who didnt buy FSD - the cars would be worth more to Tesla than the owner.

In both checkers and chess, the player gains super powers for reaching the other side of the board. Time will tell who reaches the other side of the board first. They are playing different games on the same board. Okay that’s fair.