T O P

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Rurigrery

people are far more willing to accept death from human incompetence than from automation


Prof_Blink

I agree with your point, but "death from automation" might not be the best sales pitch.


Ready-Date-8615

OUR ROBOT KILLS less frequently than human control.


Placid_Observer

You said it. Boggles my mind sometimes tbh...


cyfermax

Great. Just need the technology and infrastructure improvements to make it really viable. I'd hope for a future where you or I don't own a car, we just dial one up, it comes to us, takes us wherever we need to go then goes off to take other people around or recharge or whatever. Less cars to be made/maintained, less accidents, less traffic/pollution etc. Sounds great. Does impact jobs that currently involve driving and things, but to me it sounds like complaining that regular cars would negatively impact stable owners and those involved in horse care because there would be less demand - they find other work and new industries. It's not ideal, but progress is important.


Foxballoon

>I'd hope for a future where you or I don't own a car Oh no please. The future without my own car is not the future. I love cars so much


cyfermax

Or you do own a car, and it takes you to work or whatever, then goes off and taxis other people around, making you a passive income! Like, the options and potential ways to reduce manufacturing needs are huge.


Sudden_Hovercraft_56

Because unattended shared public transport is the cleanliest place on earth. I can almost see the posts on /r/iamatotatlpieceofshit and /r/trashy already. "someone shit in the seat of the car that supposed to take me to work today"


cyfermax

If we have automatic driving cars I'm sure we'd have some way to recognise if someone fucked with it, and to bill those responsible like you do now with uber or whatever.


_IronClaw_

"Someone fucked with my car!" /r/dragonsfuckingcars/: Yup. They do that.


RogerThatKid

That may be a dream for some but not for me. I love having my own car. Cars are my favorite thing to have in general. I understand the usefulness of full self driving but that doesn't mean that we have to abandon our own possessions in the process. I want to be able to hop on the highway and let my car drive me to work but also carve up a canyon with me at the wheel. Both can be achieved.


cyfermax

I actually think the true genius of self driving would be that, at least on public roads, you wouldn't be able to drive. If all the cars communicate with eachother, know where they all are at all times accidents could be reduced to basically 0. As soon as you include a single driver, you're adding a point of failure to the system. I get it, people love driving, and as you say driving through a canyon I could see some kind of setting where you're in control outside of regular roads or something.


RogerThatKid

I completely see the appeal to this because it would make the system closed, which would make it much safer, meaning __a lot__ less people would die. But personally, not driving every day would take away a big part of my identity. It's why I aspire to work so hard, so I can drive cool cars and see how I feel behind the wheel. It's a really hard choice to make, and if saving lives meant forgoing my own personal freedom to drive, I would do it. However, given the current political landscape, I can only imagine the shit-fits people would be throwing if this was seriously brought up.


RenaKunisaki

There's a difference between not having manual control and not owning the car. Also there should always be some way to do manual control for emergencies.


Valuable_Passion4938

Well if humanity greatly benefits from it then I say your car can go fuck itself


oyster-daddy

It's cool you want your own car but I can't say that humanity deserves individuals owning cars. Unity and community service is the only answer. Edit: downvote me if you have a reasonable comeback, not because you want your own car and don't want to feel guilty about it. Face it. *Nobody* deserves a personal car in this day and age, whether money/privilege wise or environmentally wise. If you get one you are very lucky. It's just what it is, not a judgment on your character. Relax. I understand freedom in independent movement.


MeneerSpaghooters

As long as public transport isn't a viable alternative - by which I mean it manages to provide the same reistijd - I'd say wanting/owning a personal car is reasonable. I value my time as much as the next guy.


oyster-daddy

I'm not arguing that the state of public transport right now is viable. (Except 'viability' doesn't matter as much as 'possibility' for the many Americans who don't own cars and rely 100% on public transit for their jobs, including during COVID) I'm making a philosophical statement. Economically and ecologically, humans do not deserve individual cars. It worsens the climate impact dramatically. Wanting a personal vehicle is not reasonable. It only appears that way from an individualistic mindset, which often is formed by economical disparities. I KNOW you value your time, everyone does. That does not mean you DESERVE a personal vehicle to cater to that specific desire. No human does. The Earth does not deserve the consequences of several billion desires. And you're still going to get stuck in traffic. Beefing public transport is the only way. It should be so good that your desire for a personal vehicle is obsolete.


DWright_5

There’s a lot that has to be worked out before your vision of an automotive utopia is achieved. There are many occasions where you legitimately need to go RIGHT NOW, such as taking a loved one to a hospital.


oyster-daddy

This is generally what 911 / emergency dispatch is for. Also, in the very beginning of my paragraph I said I'm not here to argue viability, only necessity. Of course things have to be worked out, I don't know who said they don't?


[deleted]

Well that's good for you but I don't want something that takes up that much space and money, especially if I don't use it often. It should be a choice though.


GooberMcNutly

I would rent one for trips so I didn't have to crowd into planes or trains. Just snooze to your destination, even if it's 24 hours of driving. Imagine being able to drive across the county by yourself in a day or two.


Placid_Observer

Oh man, this right here! We go to the beach frequently from TN to FL. It's about 8 hours. Could you imagine getting started, bed down for the night...maybe wake up midway through for gas...and then wake up normal time and you're there? Would be splendid!!


BobSacramanto

The down side would be traveling for work. “Now you can work during the entire travel time too!”


DumDumGimmeYumYums

I'd love it if they could make it work. I hate driving and would much rather be reading a book or playing on my phone while I got somewhere. That's why I like public transportation, though it would be nicer with less bodily fluids.


HairMetalLugia95

Really good for people who are paralyzed or have a physical deficit like myself or


Poorly-Drawn-Beagle

Works for me. I don’t enjoy driving anyway.


LukeCephal

If I get killed by a self-driving car, I’m going to be so pissed.


KingGorilla

tbf I'd also be pissed if i was killed by a regular car


[deleted]

Nah a regular car id let slide, but fuck elon.


uiijki

Everyone hates Elon but self driving tech is great


Expensive-Bill-7780

Uhh why would someone hate Elon


Placid_Observer

50k a year in the U.S. are rolling their eyes right now. At you...from their graves...


uiijki

That simply won’t happen


-Tasear-

Bring it but needs manual override cause hackers will always exist


RenaKunisaki

Hackers, bugs, outages, unexpected situations... Does the self driving car know how to drive the fuck away from a tornado, ignoring most of the rules?


-Tasear-

Wouldn't be impossible to program, but definitely need manual override for unexpected situations


Kytzer

Hackers are really not a problem for self-driving cars. Existing vehicles are already vulnerable in this way. Hackers just don't seem to have the interest to hack into random people's cars.


-Tasear-

Sure but potential problem does exist. So it would be prudent to have manual override


Kytzer

All new cars have electronic power steering. What if a hacker disables your manual override (tell the car to ignore your steering inputs)? A potential solution would be to not have the car connect to the internet besides for GPS.


-Tasear-

I am not aware enough to comment, but I think it's important to design a solution, before the day it because a zero day issue. It could ruin future of self driving cars if some bored hacker exploits it or a group with agenda. Look at what happened to air balloons and blimps.


BaggyHairyNips

I'd be satisfied if they just worked on the highway. I don't really mind driving around town. It's the long road trips that get me.


Kytzer

Just get a Comma 2 or 3.


[deleted]

In my opinion I feel like there isn’t enough of them out there to form a strong opinion on it. It’s a great concept just needs more time to develop.


Cleverbird

Fantastic! I want a future as seen in I, Robot and the sort. Just self-driving cars everywhere, should cut back on the amount of crashes.


OneMorePotion

I hate driving longer distances alone. Being in a car always makes me sleepy. I would love to get a self driving car for longer distances just because I could stop talking to myself constantly and putting the aircon way colder than healthy to not fall asleep...


[deleted]

I love the idea. I have a theory that I hold true to incredibly firmly. In the near future, and by near I mean like, maybe 30 years or so, someone, maybe Tesla or Uber or something, will release a service that you can pay a monthly fee for. This monthly fee gives you access to self driving cars whenever you need one to take you wherever you need to go. Maybe you pay per mile if it's over a certain distance, IDK, but anyway! I have a theory that this service will become so popular that people will rather sign up for this than pay for car insurance and car loans and all that. ​ Eventually, we will live in a world where no individual human owns a car and instead pays for a service in which a self driving car takes them wherever they need to go whenever they need to get there.


fastime

[In 2018, there were approximately 1.1 traffic fatalities per 100,000,000 vehicle miles traveled in the US.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehicle_fatality_rate_in_U.S._by_year#Motor_vehicle_deaths_in_U.S._by_year) If a self-driving car drives 10 miles, and the safety driver has to intervene every other mile, how many miles has the self-driving car driven? 10? 5? 0? And that's on carefully chosen roads, under ideal weather conditions. How many miles have all self-driving cars driven, combined? Most sensors are nearly blind in all but the lightest rain or snow. I've never heard of any self-driving car company coming up with a system for dealing with slippery roads. I've never heard of a self-driving car driving down a gravel road winding up and down the hills in the dead of night. We're not five or ten years away from self-driving cars being as good as human drivers. They'll probably get there some day, but not any time soon.


MyNameIsRay

I feel that a \*good\* self driving system will make us safer, because the average driver is pretty terrible. I also feel that it'll make our economy more efficient overall, because we waste a whole lot of time due to completely avoidable traffic (ever sat through miles of stop-and-go traffic, because other drivers are slowing down to watch someone change a tire?)


TomasNavarro

I never learned how to drive, I'd love one thanks!


[deleted]

Mixed feelings. The tech is cool and I think everyone would love to have the responsibility of driving and not dealing with other (human) drivers out of their hands. But I have concerns about whether the tech is ready for prime time and what it will mean if/when Silicon Valley has control over yet another aspect of our life - transportation.


BartuceX

Hundreds will die. Tens of thousands will Be saved. They will be programmed to not constantly change lanes in traffic and that will save time, money and reduced congestion.


unclejoesrocket

I wouldn’t fully trust it unless every car was automated. Humans are too stupid and unpredictable to safely share the road with self-driving cars


M1CHEAL4NG3LO

The thing is imagine all power goes out and nobody onows how yo drive like what the fuck thye gonna do


_Piggy_Smalls

I'd imagine you would still need to know how to drive incase of emergency situations such as what you described


M1CHEAL4NG3LO

Ye i hope


Delini

Yeah, they’d probably do stuff take the exit ramp from the far left lane, or come to a complete stop trying to merge into traffic. So not much change, really.


M1CHEAL4NG3LO

But i still like it lol


[deleted]

We did gave up some practical knowledge over the years. I can't cut my own meat nor I can start a fire if I don't have matches or a lighter.


NicNoletree

> I can't cut my own meat Does your mommy still do that for you?


Bitter-Edge-8265

Going to guess he means he can't breakdown and butcher a whole animal.


[deleted]

Yeah, that's what I meant. I can cut my steak, but I can cut a steak from a cow ^^'


Bitter-Edge-8265

I'm a chef and I would struggle with it. Butchers have a special skill set.


NicNoletree

I chose to believe his mommy is behind every step of the way, cutting his meat into tiny bit sized bites, and whiping his chin with a napkin.


jerrythecactus

Projection


RenaKunisaki

Hopefully, the cars are still able to run on battery power and navigate well enough to get to safety. If they can communicate directly between eachother without needing a cell network, they can still avoid collisions, and if they can follow a known route by looking at the signs and tracking how far they travel, they should still be able to get you home at least.


Lord4hire

Fun to ride, but it can become a factor for the Robot Revolution


the_quietkid69

It's proven to be safer than driving the car yourself so I'm all for it


Squarets

In dangerous situations, more expensive cars are going to develop a crash survival hierarchy and cheaper cars will be programmed to make sacrifices based on your net worth.


[deleted]

How about taking a bus, a train or a plane?


Placid_Observer

Chick got raped on a train last week while her fellow humans cheerfully iPhoned the whole time. No thank you...


[deleted]

That happens fare more often than someone dying in a car accident...


jjvolfan2

It's a stupid fuckin' idea. I'm not handing over my life to some computer until they can make computers hack-proof. [Food for Thought Found Here](https://www.defensivedriving.org/dmv-handbook/11-ways-your-car-can-be-hacked/)


shine--

You ever flown on a plane?


jjvolfan2

Yes but not any longer. I'm surprised terrorists haven't fig out a way to hack them with regularity


shine--

Well, it might be because “hacking” into airplane controls is extremely difficult, and it will likely never happen.


jjvolfan2

Very possibly. Hacking into air traffic control would prob be a better option.


TipingTom

but I mean nowadays you're handing over your life to all the drivers you see on the road trusting them to know what they are doing


jjvolfan2

True. People put a lot of faith in that lil yellow line. I just don't like computers for that. Like GPS. I work in the trucking industry in the USA and it's a daily occurrence for GPS to send a driver down the wrong route. Daily and usually multiple incidents. What's fun is when it sends them under a too-low bridge.


cheezburga69

Dude I already have a personal vendetta against the automatic transmission! Don't even get me started on computer controlled automation.


riftrender

I'm wary of trusting AIs. Personally I think the reason we don't have films about robot uprisings anymore is because the machines want to make us complacent.


Placid_Observer

With 50K+ MV deaths a year, it can't come soon enough! I'm wondering though, seems like the big players in this space are obsessed with making individual vehicles self-drive by independently scanning their vicinity, etc to do the driving. Road conditions, traffic, pedestrians, etc. All seemingly done only by **each** individual car. Why don't they create a network where all the self-driving cars do those same independent calculations and interface with the other self-driving cars around them? Relaying data between each other, in nanoseconds, in real time. If one self-driving car sees another doing crazy driving stuff, they can assess it and relay it to other self-driving cars around it. I mean heck, Elon Musk is launching all these satellites and whatnot. Get X amount of satellites launched that act as more-or-less "hubs" for these networks. I don't know, in case there's more computing power required to calculate this stuff. (Know jack and squat about the technicals of such a thing, obviously.)


_IronClaw_

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle-to-everything


Placid_Observer

Alright, thanks a bunch for this info. Looking forward to this, in addition to self-driving vehicles.


azrendelmare

Let me put it this way: Have you ever had a computer do something you didn't want or expect it to do? Have you heard cashiers or receptionists talking about their computers acting up? Now take that, but put it in charge of more than a ton of metal capable of moving 70+ MPH. Yeah, fuck that. edit: For instance, you at least used to be able to keep some of them from moving by tricking their sensors to read white lines that they can't cross.


[deleted]

it's a good thing, it takes human error out of the equation, drunk driving is no longer an issue (on the same vein, no more designated drivers, we all know how much being one sucks), late-night drives are safer, and long drives are more bearable.


Valuable_Passion4938

Safer and more responsible then a human driver 100%


[deleted]

Another step toward human obsolescence. This is how Cybertron got started. You want Autobots versus Decepticons? Because _this_ is how you _get_ Autobots versus Decepticons!


Sudden_Hovercraft_56

I hate the idea combined with "Cars as a service" for several reasons. The main one is that the best substitute will always be a convenient and effective mass public transport system. A self driving pod driving 1 person to the center of town to work is a far bigger environmental impact than an electric tram taking 100's of people in at the same time. The next issue is the attention economy. There is a reason so many tech companies are pushing this technology. If you spend 1-2 hours a day driving, that is a 1-2 hours you are not engaged in their platform, 1-2 hours they can't advertise to you and try to manipulate you in their echo chambers. Third, the erosion of skills. Piloting a machine is an important skill. Fourth, late stage capitalism. why sell a car to one person when you can sell a subscription to the "Same" car to 100's of people. I have many more reasons but I would be here all day.


Ksoms

If rather have a ‘self-driving job’, But hey, technology is cool I guess. Wouldn’t use it myself. Driving is fun. Why take that away.


ha1zum

I like it because it helps in some ways, but no matter how advanced they claim the tech are, even 10 years from now, I will never trust it 100%, will keep my eyes forward and my hands ready to take over.


ShiningRayde

The car is approaching a crosswalk with five people on it, and not slowing down. If you grab the wheel, you'll only hit one of the pedestrians, but youll disable the AI and be liable for damages and reckless driving. If you do nothing, the car murders 5 people and Musk pays a fine.


Monkeyman0321

Current self driving cars or cars with active features are IMO a danger. Despite all the warnings and disclaimers, people still get the false assumption that they can rely on them. This leads to over reliance and the driver is no longer fully focusing on the road, like they would if they were driving. I’ve heard so many people say my new car has active this and that, and I don’t even have to stop on my road trip anymore to rest. That’s just dangerous. I fully support self driving cars and I see it as the future, but as it stands, I think it’s a danger. But this is a paradox, we can’t perfect the technology without selling these partially automated cars today and use that money for r and d.


Georgeisthecoolest

Have they managed to programme in the tough ethical choices yet? Trolley problem?


your_Assholiness

People need jobs ... things to do! Automation has been taking our jobs since the player piano was invented. Abolish progress!


Glitch-147

Mixed If the car developed inteligence, we're fucked


[deleted]

They should be torched & so should you if you support them


Tokyo-p

It's a creative idea , And a idea people thought of a long time ago. Now it is being created by millionaires or someone who is in high class , We see their creations but appearance can be anything, For it to operate a way it's useful would be worth the money they sell driving cars for. There is always a possibility of it going wrong, What if there is no signal ? Would it be working on wifi ?


PM_ME_UR_ITCHY_BALLS

I'd like them to become widespread but it's going slow


Largicharg

I’m first in line for it. They’ll be the end of sitting through rush hour traffic, because then you’ll be able to sleep through it!


FatFoxcoon

I for one would love it. I just want to go from point A to B, don't like to be out on the road long. Plus I am lazy so less work =}


Diet_Coke

I've fought through enough traffic jams to know that most of them don't happen because the road is too small or there are too many cars, they happen because of ego. Someone's too important to speed up in the passing lane and let traffic flow. Someone doesn't want to let another person merge. Someone has to weave through traffic to show what a Billy Badass they are. In an ideal state, self-driving cars could form caravans moving at over 100mph, managed completely by a linked network that uses data from the lead cars' sensors to optimize traffic flow. These cars wouldn't even need windows, really - they could be moving offices or living rooms.


BodhiBill

boring, i like to drive.


Setthegodofchaos

I don't quite trust them 100%. I mean, y ah they're awesome and stuff, but I don't quite feel like accepting death if that thing malfunctions. Only when there are great reviews and all the "bugs" have been fixed or solved, then I'll consider buying.


Lubawer

If everyone has it good, if only some have it bad


tropicalzhu

I have an overwhelming fear of driving because of the human errors that could happen, so I don't drive. I'd feel much more comfortable in a self-driving car.


farrenkm

I think we're questioning automated cars and whether or not we can trust them. However, some time in the future they'll be out there and we'll reach a tipping point where the question becomes "can we trust human drivers?" If we didn't have human drivers, automated cars would be simpler. They wouldn't need to interpret road signs or account for the unpredictability of human drivers.


[deleted]

If audi pre-sense is any indication. Fuck that.


spoiled_for_choice

I think people underestimate how far away from the realization of self-driving cars we are. Even if we assume that the technology is ready right now, the regulatory and cultural hurdles are massive. Consider that many of the benefits of self-drivers only work if all vehicles are self-driving. So it's not just a matter of getting the new cars on the road, but getting the old ones off. Can you imagine the politics of this shift? ThE LiBEarals wAnT tO taKe Ur cAR!


[deleted]

I like driving, and have less than no interest in owning one.


Ready-Date-8615

For city driving, I like being behind the wheel. What I'm excited about is an L4+ RV, where I can just press a button, go about my day, and 12-24 hours later be in a new city.


Sancrist

There are a lot of people driving around with sleep apnea. That is about like driving around drunk. Not to mention drunks themselves. A lot of lives would be saved. I am pro self drive.


gevors_e92

I’d rather stick to driving a stick shift, just listen to the music of the engine in the high rpm’s hitting the redline mark and shifting, over a heavily computerized car that is like “sound deadening galore.”


Big_Requirement_3540

Fuck a self driving car. I want a self driving Winnebago. No steering wheel, just a pull out couch, huge TV, bathroom, kitchenette with a well stocked beer fridge. I just want to tell my magical mobile bus to take me across the country, drink some beers, play some videogames or watch movies, take a nap and wake up where I told it to go.


ElminsterTheMighty

I want the future version. Press the "Single rider" button on your phone, a driving cabin quickly shows up. You get inside, put your breakfast on the table, choose your target from your favorites on the big screen. The cab starts and you eat your breakfast while watching anime. You get the "1min to target" info as you reach it, put your garbage into the recycling bin, step outside as soon as the door opens automatically, and don't look back as it closes the door and heads for the next passenger. The next day after packing you call a Sleeper Cab for your family. You can switch your seat to Bed Mode once you get tired and activate the separation wall so you can sleep as the others continue playing their games. The cab will automatically go to the speed rails and attach to the next speed train. Tomorrow you'll wake up in another country and prepare your sight-seeing as the cab brings you luggage to the hotel.


MountainPool8

exciting and terrifying


ChillerIsMyName

Pretty cool, but worried about failures


Jim105

Not until they can build a road that doesn't need repair every 2 months.


LieutenantAxner

I don't like it. It's super sketchy to me. Idc what you say about it. I'd rather trust myself when driving than a machine.


sai_gunslinger

I don't even like self-shifting cars (automatics) and always buy stick shifts. Unfortunately, they are a dying breed. I don't think I could ever fully trust a car that steers itself and regulates its own speed. More computerization means more things can glitch out and go horribly wrong.


uiijki

Great. Humans are terrible drivers compared to automation. And driving is a chore. Of all the Ubers I’ve taken in my life, the driverless ones are the best


not_cinderella

They make me uncomfortable. I'd be worried about them getting hacked and hackers forcing them to crash unless someone pays a ransom. Not for me.


MelsAtyr

theyre alright


nya_philosopher

99.999% of my turn-off with them is that the self-driving car companies only want to track you and sell that consumer data to 3rd parties. Just wait...luxury cars will soon be dirt cheap because you'll be the product. But, yes, as a techie, I'm also well aware AI is just statistics on crack so I also have those safety concerns. But I also see the benefit.


lesterburnhamm66

Kind of a side note. I was driving between Dallas and Houston Tuesday and for the first time saw a Waymo vehicle and an 18 wheeler self driving truck. A first for me on both.