Postby talindsay » March 14th, 2018, 5:04 pm
I only read half of that article but unless it gets a whole lot smarter in the second half, I'd say it's kind of idiotic. Where exactly do they think all those autonomous cars will go when they're not in use? Or do they expect them to be continually circulating, and see no problem with traffic in that scenario? Also, I'll point out the fallacy in this that implies Americans own private vehicles because they have to - as though somehow, with autonomous cars, nobody will want to own their own private autonomous car. People don't drive because they can't take taxis, buses, or trains; they drive because they don't *have to* take taxis, buses, or trains.
Technologists love to evangelize the autonomous car. They should really talk with some sociologists about how and why our society's notions of independence and personal freedom have been harnessed by an auto industry that realizes they can make more money selling two cars to every household every five years than they could by selling buses and trains. Autonomous cars are a way to avoid changing the paradigm while making personal cars more expensive and possibly safer.
Edit: turns out I was almost done with the article, so I finished it. Nope, it doesn't get any smarter.