The development of driverless cars has faced significant challenges and setbacks. Despite substantial financial investments, the industry has not been successful in producing a viable commercial driverless vehicle. Recent events, such as the withdrawal of a leading robotaxi provider in the US and the introduction of strict legislation in the UK, indicate that the prospects of monetizing driverless cars are becoming increasingly remote.

‍

The pursuit of driverless cars began in the mid-2000s, with various tech and car companies racing to create autonomous vehicles capable of operating in all conditions without a driver. However, the hype around this technology has consistently exceeded the actual technological progress. The promise of greater safety on the roads, with the potential to reduce the annual global death toll from accidents, was a key selling point for driverless cars.

‍

However, incidents have exposed the limitations of autonomous vehicles. Uber's self-driving car was involved in a fatal accident, leading to the company's abandonment of its driverless taxi trials. Cruise, a company owned by General Motors, also faced an accident that resulted in serious injuries and led to the withdrawal of its robotaxis. Tesla, while marketing its driver aid software as "full self-driving," has faced lawsuits in the US due to accidents involving vehicles in this mode.

‍

Legislation in the UK now requires car manufacturers to accurately specify which functions of the vehicle are automated, forcing companies like Tesla to change their marketing approach. These events have highlighted the technological challenges and uncertainties surrounding autonomous vehicles. Predictions of rapid adoption have proven overly optimistic, and the difficulty of surpassing human driving skills has become apparent. The complexity of the road environment and the need to teach computers to interpret various scenarios pose significant challenges.

‍

Given the ongoing difficulties in achieving fully autonomous vehicles, there are questions about whether this is the best use of resources, especially when other transportation sectors require attention and reform. The future of driverless cars remains uncertain, and concerns about the impact of AI on employment may be overstated, as the technology has struggled to deliver on its promises in this context.