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The Daily

Ready or Not, Driverless Cars Are Here

Aug 23, 2023
Cade Metz, a technology correspondent for The New York Times, explores the reality of driverless cars in San Francisco. He dives into the exhilarating experience of riding in these self-driving vehicles, showcasing their cautious navigation and unique voice interactions. Metz also addresses safety concerns, public skepticism, and regulatory debates surrounding this technology. With local officials worried about the implications of round-the-clock autonomous services, he highlights the critical balance between innovation and community impact.
33:37

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The adoption of driverless cars in San Francisco has ignited a debate about the level of safety, accidents, and disruptions society is willing to tolerate as we strive for a future with autonomous vehicles.
  • The development of autonomous vehicles started as a military-driven endeavor and transitioned to civilian use, but building fully autonomous vehicles capable of operating safely in real-world scenarios has proved challenging.

Deep dives

The Rise of Driverless Cars in San Francisco

Driverless cars have become a 24-hour-a-day reality in San Francisco, making it the capital of this driverless car experiment. The streets are filled with self-driving cars equipped with numerous sensors to navigate the city. However, these cars are overly cautious, driving at the pace of a careful 16-year-old driver and causing traffic congestion. While there is excitement and novelty around this technology, it has also raised concerns due to accidents, collisions with emergency vehicles, and unexpected behaviors. The adoption of driverless cars in San Francisco has ignited a debate about the level of safety, accidents, and disruptions society is willing to tolerate as we strive for a future with autonomous vehicles.

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