During an episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, RJ Scaringe, the founder and CEO of Rivian, made it clear that LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a crucial and irreplaceable component in autonomous driving technology. He argued that without LiDAR, assisted driving systems simply cannot ensure the utmost safety for users. Scaringe highlighted that the cost of LiDAR technology has dropped substantially in recent years, making it more accessible. Moreover, he pointed out that LiDAR offers unique capabilities that cameras alone cannot provide, thereby significantly boosting the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems.