Uncanny Valley | WIRED What's Lost When the Human Drivers Are Gone?
25 snips
Mar 13, 2025 Aarian Marshall, a staff writer at WIRED specializing in transportation, shares insights on the future of self-driving cars and their impact on urban environments. They discuss the safety regulations being crafted for autonomous vehicles and the pros and cons of roles like robo-taxis. Aarian explores public perceptions and the acceptance challenges faced by passengers, revealing a mix of comfort and concern. The conversation also highlights the potential cultural implications of the shift toward these technologies and their effects on traditional public transit.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
First Waymo Ride
- Lauren Goode's first Waymo ride was with Michael Calore.
- They rode over San Francisco's hills, experiencing the autonomous driving.
Early Self-Driving Experiences
- Aarian Marshall's first self-driving car experience was in a Cruise, which braked hard for perceived sidewalk pedestrians.
- Later Waymo rides were smoother, except for a sudden stop when a dog ran towards a dog park fence.
City Focus
- Robotaxis initially focused on dense cities due to high demand there.
- This was a strategic shift from earlier approaches like Waymo's initial suburban focus.