EP 32: Autonomous Vehicle Regulation: A Conversation with Ian Poirier (Toyota Research Institute)

Ian Poirier is the Associate General Counsel at Toyota Research Institute (TRI), where he works at the intersection of autonomous vehicles, robotics, safety, and policy. We talk about how autonomous vehicle regulation has evolved over the past decade, including Ian’s experience moving from Lyft’s early AV efforts to Toyota’s long-term research and safety programs. Along the way, he explains why one of the hardest questions in autonomy remains defining what “safe enough” actually means when formal standards lag behind the technology.We also walk through Ian’s in-house career path—from UCSF Law to Wikimedia, Lyft, and ultimately Toyota—and the unconventional choices that shaped it. Ian reflects on why mastering legal fundamentals, taking on responsibility early, and being willing to operate without formal training or process became the foundation for his career in emerging technology.