Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the automobile. In so doing, it will transform much more than that. Given how central automotive transportation is to our cities, commerce, and daily lives, saying that AI will change life as we know it is no understatement.
Hard Questions on Our Transition to Driverless Cars
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Modern vehicles are safer and more tech-enabled than ever, but AI-enabled new mobility holds the promise to an accident-free future. Some disruptors are at the point where their systems already outperform humans on the open road. It is a matter of time before we start seeing robo-taxis and autonomous commercial vehicles appear and up-end today’s business models. To understand where this new mobility might take us, it’s important to distinguish between two types of AI-powered motor vehicles: self-driving and driverless. Self-driving vehicles offer the option of automated and manual driving. Either way, there’s someone in the driver’s seat. Driverless vehicles, on the other hand, have neither driver nor (eventually) a steering wheel. Driverless cars could mean big changes in public policy, energy, health care, retail, financial services, energy, infrastructure, original equipment manufacturers, transportation, and insurance markets. Now is the time for progressive business leaders and city administrators to get in front of this transformation.