According to Sawyer Merritt, General Motors invested approximately $8.2 billion into its now-defunct Cruise robotaxi program, underscoring both the high costs and complex challenges of scaling autonomous vehicle technology in real-world environments (source: Sawyer Merritt, Twitter). The massive financial commitment reflects the broader AI industry's struggle to transition from successful pilot projects to safe, regulated commercial deployment. Despite Cruise's shutdown, the investment has yielded significant advances in AI-driven perception, mapping, and robotics, which are now being leveraged across automotive and mobility sectors. This case illustrates the need for robust safety frameworks and opens business opportunities for AI startups and established companies to commercialize components—such as advanced driver-assist systems and urban mobility solutions—originally developed for autonomous vehicles.