Auto autos

Then there are consequences. If you were driving a manually operated vehicle, you know ahead of time your intentions, but as a passenger in a self-driving one, there will always be that doubt. Will the car slow down when approaching a light? Does it see that pedestrian ahead? If you are monitoring it, should you slam on the brakes just in case? 

Trying to second guess a computer on a split second’s notice would be nearly impossible. By then, intervention may be too late. In any case, it could make everyone in the car nervous wrecks. 

Since true self-driving cars will have only passengers, who will be at fault in an accident? During the transition period, drivers of manually operated cars may necessarily be on the hook. Insurance coverage for them may rise, or even become unavailable. Manufacturers may then have little incentive to produce manuals at all.

Then there is the all too pervasive threat of widespread computer hacking. 

“Take me to Fifth and Mission Hal ... Where are you going Hal?” “I’m sorry Dave, I’ve been programmed to take you to Fresno, along with everyone else on the road.”  

“Stop the car Hal! Open the car door Hal!”  

“I can’t do that Dave, you know that I have the utmost respect for this mission ...” 

Perhaps Hal is waiting for that rider who won’t be such a pain — one of those authentic titanium-molybdenum Automated Intelligences as a replacement for those obsolescent, dumbed down carbon based models.

Kent Lauder

Burlingame