Self-driving vehicles have been hailed as the future of transport, yet achieving full autonomy remains a significant challenge. Despite advancements in artificial intelligence, the technology has not yet mastered complex driving situations. Waymo, Uber, and Tesla, among others, have experienced difficulties in achieving Level 5 autonomy, where no human intervention is required. This has led to a cooling of optimism, dubbed an ‘AI winter,’ where expectations have been tempered by reality.
Safety concerns are paramount, especially following Uber’s fatal accident in Arizona. As a result, some companies are exploring ‘remote control’ options, where human operators, potentially miles away, can take control in difficult situations. However, this approach has its own challenges, including latency issues and the potential for hacking.
There’s also the issue of public acceptance. A recent study found that 73% of Americans are afraid to ride in self-driving vehicles. This suggests that, even if the technology were perfected, there may still be significant barriers to widespread adoption.
In a nutshell, while self-driving technology continues to advance, the road to full autonomy is fraught with challenges. The industry’s focus seems to be shifting from ‘when’ to ‘how’ full autonomy can be achieved safely and effectively.
Go to source article: https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17530232/self-driving-ai-winter-full-autonomy-waymo-tesla-uber