Uber’s first self-driving cars will start picking up passengers this month

[Sonikku]

Dunno, the millions of accountants that were replaced by Excel seemed to figure it out. Same with buggy whip manufacturers.

I think there is some truth to this looking back, though the way forward might be different with the advent of ai and machines that replace human jobs at speeds ever greater than new jobs can be created in new industries to fill in the gap.

The endgame of executives is to do more with less and they're succeeding. Workforce participation continues to crater in a time when our output has never been higher. This may not be a trend that can safely be sustained indefinitely.

 

[bradly1101]

I think there is some truth to this looking back, though the way forward might be different with the advent of ai and machines that replace human jobs at speeds ever greater than new jobs can be created in new industries to fill in the gap.

The endgame of executives is to do more with less and they're succeeding. Workforce participation continues to crater in a time when our output has never been higher. This may not be a trend that can safely be sustained indefinitely.

I used to work for a company that specializes in reducing workforce costs. We had a script for telling people that our products aren't designed to replace people, but rather help people. But we knew what the game was. I also came across a questionnaire of theirs when I was helping someone find a job, and they weed out applicants with the most bizarre questions.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Personality screening is one of the big things in modern HR since the philosophy of human resources as a profit center came to be.

 

[pmv]

Which by definition makes it a political/judicial decision. People need to wake up to the fact that SDCs will mean more regulated transportation than we have today.

Today if a human decides to hit a kid instead of driving off a cliff to avoid the kid that person might avoid arrest but they could still be sued (and be held liable) by the parents of the kid in a civil suit.

When it's Google or Tesla or Uber or whoever's software driving the car that liability now rests with them, which means the parents have a much bigger target to go after. Therefore SDC decision won't be based on "morality" or what the driver wants, they will decide based on what result brings the SDC creator the least amount of liability. Actuaries will make the decisions.

And that is only if we are lucky. If certain groups get the idea that SDCs means they can REGULATE the morality of driving they will use their political power to do so. Imagine every child has a microchip implanted, and cars are regulated to go off the cliff every time instead of run over that chip because "children are our future."

We need to realize that getting the technology right is a small part of the equation unfortunately.

We probably don't exactly agree, given that I don't drive and am not a fan of cars (I wish there were fewer of them in my way when I walk, cycle or take the bus, so I'd rather see car-less drivers than driverless cars).

But we probably do agree on the point that either way, robocars are going to open up a massive new area for political and legal arguments, and that the political/legal issues seem harder to predict than the technological ones.

 

[pcslookout]

Here is a picture of a Uber self driving car! This is so cool.


https://twitter.com/hels/status/769168208788017152/photo/1

 

[pcslookout]

Anyone in Pittsburgh, PA able to try one yet ?

 

[soulcougher73]

I will take 50 deaths by automated cars any day over the ~32,000 per year that we have now with non-automated. Statistics don't lie, and if you guys would learn to think for yourself instead of what the media wants you to think - you would realize that you are statistically better off.

How do you know it would be only 50 deaths? Seems a large leap into the unknown.

 

[pcslookout]

How do you know it would be on 50 deaths? Seems a large leap into the unknown.

Yeah I agree.

 

[SSSnail]

This is bad, just bad...




Where will I get videos of drunk passengers beating up the Uber drivers now!?? Will someone think of the children?

 

[John Connor]

It's a cool technology and may lead to no more MVAs, drunk drivers, tail gaters, road ragers, etc. But I'll give it a few years before I step foot in one.

 

[Midwayman]

As long as they aren't like the terrible, scammy Uber drivers around here, I'm all for it. If you do Uber pool, most drivers will sit and wait for 10+ minutes before coming to get you in hopes you cancel and have to pay them the $2-5 cancellation fee. It's total BS.

Coming home from ORD I recent had a uber driver repeatedly accept out trip and then call us faking that he had a flat and suggesting we cancel. I think he was hoping for a trip downtown and not a close burb. Turn your fucking app off if you don't want our trip. We don't get to choose the driver.

 

[Ns1]

Coming home from ORD I recent had a uber driver repeatedly accept out trip and then call us faking that he had a flat and suggesting we cancel. I think he was hoping for a trip downtown and not a close burb. Turn your fucking app off if you don't want our trip. We don't get to choose the driver.

Ah yes the joy of dealing with independent contractors.

On the driver side, they are also not able to choose their customers. In a strange catch22, they are independent contractors so they cannot be forced to accept rides, but are penalized by Uber for exercising those rights.

 

[Midwayman]

How do you know it would be only 50 deaths? Seems a large leap into the unknown.

More like 3200. Something like 90% of accidents are human error. So elminate those at best. Accidents don't equal deaths of course, but I don't have better numbers. Still roads will get a lot less dangerous.