Plain English with Derek Thompson

The Self-Driving Revolution Is Real—and It Could Be Spectacular

79 snips
Nov 15, 2024
Timothy Lee, author of "Understanding AI" and expert on self-driving cars, dives into the revolutionary world of autonomous vehicles. He discusses how companies like Waymo and Tesla are shaping the future of transportation. Lee highlights the impressive safety records of self-driving cars compared to human drivers, with Waymo achieving no fatalities over 25 million miles. He envisions vast changes in urban planning and public safety, while also addressing potential career shifts in driving occupations due to automation.
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ANECDOTE

DARPA Challenge

  • In 2005, DARPA challenged vehicles to drive themselves through the Mojave Desert.
  • Google's Waymo emerged from this, initially using modified Toyota Priuses.
INSIGHT

Self-Driving Significance

  • Self-driving cars could significantly improve road safety, given the high number of annual accidents.
  • The automobile, being a pivotal 20th-century technology, is now being reinvented.
INSIGHT

How Self-Driving Cars Work

  • Self-driving cars perceive the world through cameras, radar, and LiDAR, creating a 3D model.
  • They internally simulate possible scenarios to plan the safest trajectory.
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