I wonder if anyone has any incentive to make it so you can pay with cash like a vending machine. (I think some of biggest benefits could be for those who struggle to afford cars, but those folks don't always good payment options.)
I wonder if the net benefit to society rests on the side of the autonomous vehicles (potentially safer roads) or retaining “driver” as a category of employed people (3 to 5% of the population in the US).
may open up other opportunities due to people being more mobile. more commerce activity in general. I heavily dislike having to find parking or hiring a non waymo ride.
The roads will be safer. The streets though? Remains to be seen…
Also I calculated - the approximate worth of those Waymos sitting on that lot was likely upwards of $400M! It doesn't seem much compared to hyperscaler spending but it’s not chump change either. I believe they are going all in.
On one hand, injuries from vehicular accidents in the roadway may decline to AVs being generally safer. On the other, intentional violence due to unrest and unhappy jobless in "the streets" may limit or entirely offset those gains.