London is set to become the latest stop on a journey that began in Phoenix, Arizona, as driverless taxis from Waymo are expected to hit British streets next year. Transport correspondent Gwyn Topham has been testing out the technology in Austin, Texas, where Helen Pidd recently took a ride.
While Waymo's robotaxis have been making waves across the US, concerns remain about how well they'll adapt to London's notoriously complex and historic streets. Will the technology be able to handle narrow alleys and medieval-style architecture, or will it struggle to navigate the capital's unique landscape?
The answer is far from clear-cut. According to Johana Bhuiyan, a senior tech reporter at The Guardian US who has been following the autonomous car industry for years, there have been numerous false starts in the development of robotaxis. "It's like trying to predict when and where the next big thing will happen," she notes.
One potential downside of ghost taxis is that they could put a significant number of jobs out of work. Drivers are set to lose their livelihoods as companies shift towards autonomous vehicles, leaving some worrying about the impact on vulnerable members of society.
Meanwhile, there's also concerns about how passengers will behave when faced with a driverless car without a human presence at the wheel. Will people be more reckless or less trusting in the technology? Only time will tell.
One thing is certain, however: trust needs to be established if we're going to accept robotaxis as a legitimate mode of transportation. As Bhuiyan notes, "It's all about building public confidence." Whether that happens remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – the future of driving looks very different indeed.
A key factor in establishing trust will be data analysis and performance tracking. Waymo has been using sensors and cameras to gather information on its robotaxis, and the data suggests that they're performing well in terms of safety and reliability. But as the technology rolls out across the country, more questions need to be answered – particularly regarding liability.
As Bhuiyan puts it, "It's all about creating a regulatory framework that works." For now, though, one thing is clear: London is on the cusp of something new, and it's uncertain whether we're ready for it just yet.
While Waymo's robotaxis have been making waves across the US, concerns remain about how well they'll adapt to London's notoriously complex and historic streets. Will the technology be able to handle narrow alleys and medieval-style architecture, or will it struggle to navigate the capital's unique landscape?
The answer is far from clear-cut. According to Johana Bhuiyan, a senior tech reporter at The Guardian US who has been following the autonomous car industry for years, there have been numerous false starts in the development of robotaxis. "It's like trying to predict when and where the next big thing will happen," she notes.
One potential downside of ghost taxis is that they could put a significant number of jobs out of work. Drivers are set to lose their livelihoods as companies shift towards autonomous vehicles, leaving some worrying about the impact on vulnerable members of society.
Meanwhile, there's also concerns about how passengers will behave when faced with a driverless car without a human presence at the wheel. Will people be more reckless or less trusting in the technology? Only time will tell.
One thing is certain, however: trust needs to be established if we're going to accept robotaxis as a legitimate mode of transportation. As Bhuiyan notes, "It's all about building public confidence." Whether that happens remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – the future of driving looks very different indeed.
A key factor in establishing trust will be data analysis and performance tracking. Waymo has been using sensors and cameras to gather information on its robotaxis, and the data suggests that they're performing well in terms of safety and reliability. But as the technology rolls out across the country, more questions need to be answered – particularly regarding liability.
As Bhuiyan puts it, "It's all about creating a regulatory framework that works." For now, though, one thing is clear: London is on the cusp of something new, and it's uncertain whether we're ready for it just yet.
. and yeah, trust is def key but i dont think ppl should be all negative about it either 
. id rather see ppl focus on buildin public confidence thru proper testing & evaluation instead of just bashin the tech 
but at the same time, I'm also kinda nervous about how it'll all play out. Like, imagine cruising around London in a car that's basically driving itself... it sounds pretty cool, but what if something goes wrong? 
. And I guess if we can just get the tech right and make sure everyone feels safe, then maybe this whole robotaxis thing will be okay.
. But I guess that's just part of the whole process... figuring it out as we go along.
UK streets gonna be crazy! Narrow alleys, old buildings, who knows how robotaxis will handle it? 
Those drivers are worried, and I don't blame them. But at the same time, think of all the benefits – less traffic congestion, more accessible transportation for everyone... 
Like, have you seen those London streets? Narrow alleys and historic buildings galore 
It's gonna be a wild ride trying to figure out how the tech adapts to all that complexity 
And then there's the whole trust thing... will people trust these ghost taxis without human presence at the wheel? Only time (and data analysis 
) will tell
. But at the same time, I'm also thinking about the social implications – what happens to all those human drivers who are gonna lose their jobs? It's a bit concerning, you know? And what about liability when things go wrong? Like, if someone gets hurt in an autonomous car accident, who do we hold responsible? The manufacturer or the passenger? 
, they'll probs be too busy checking their notifications to notice or care about the lack of a human driver 
. but what about those who aren't as tech-savvy? will they feel uneasy without an actual person at the wheel? and let's not forget about the whole job loss thing - it's like, what if we're creating a world where everyone's dependent on machines to get around 
. I think it's crucial to acknowledge the potential downsides, such as job losses for drivers and concerns about public behavior in front of automated vehicles 
. One thing's for sure, it'll be fascinating to watch the development of these robotaxis unfold 
[GIF of a person trying to squeeze into a tiny space] meanwhile, ppl might get all anxious cuz there's no human at the wheel... what if they freak out 
[Image of a " panic button" with a cartoon driverless car]
but like, how do u build that trust tho? 
gotta get some data analysis & performance tracking goin on 