Our tolerance for driverless cars may be lower because we trust human skill and judgment. We rely on common sense, reasoning, and human qualities that the technology lacks. It has more sensors and can process data faster, but it does not possess the qualities that make us human. Therefore, it is difficult to trust a technology that is so different from us to replace us. Furthermore, we are unsure if driverless cars are a necessity or if the technology can meet our needs. We do not know if it is safer or cheaper than a human driver. The situation in San Francisco provides an opportunity to answer these questions and determine if the need for driverless cars exists and if the technology can fulfill that need.
After a closely watched vote, driverless cars, once a Silicon Valley fantasy, have become a 24-hour-a-day reality in San Francisco. Are autonomous vehicles an interesting and safe transportation alternative? Or are they a nuisance and a traffic-blocking disaster waiting to happen?
Cade Metz, who covers technology for The Times, describes the unique challenges of coexisting with cars that drive themselves.
Guest: Cade Metz, a technology correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.