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During my visit to Hollywood, I took ride in a Waymo self-driving car. Sitting beside the driver’s seat with nobody in it felt odd. An empty seat where you instinctively expect a person. I remember watching driverless vehicles being developed and showcased in the 2000s. They seemed like a distant possibility. Now I was travelling in one.
Google began its self-driving car project in 2009. That project became Waymo. What I experienced was the result of years of research, testing and persistence. Waymo is part of a wider shift. Zoox is offering public robotaxi rides in Las Vegas, Tesla is operating its Robotaxi service in selected US markets, and Uber is offering autonomous rides through partners such as Waymo. Different approaches, but all bringing self-driving transport into everyday life.
The challenge has always been bigger than getting a car to steer itself. It must understand its surroundings, anticipate human behaviour and respond safely to the unexpected. I believe we will see more self-driving cars and trucks as the technology proves itself across different roads and conditions. Driverless freight already operates on selected routes in the US.
For supply chains, the possibilities are significant: more predictable transport, better use of vehicles and new ways to plan the movement of goods.
But will it be better for humankind?
Safer roads and greater independence for people who cannot drive would be meaningful progress. We must also consider the livelihoods that could change and prepare people through education and reskilling.
My first thought was that it would surely be better for the environment. The evidence made me pause. Electric vehicles and efficient driving can help. But empty journeys and increased traffic could offset those gains. How we power, share and manage these vehicles will matter.
I came away optimistic, with plenty to think about.
The empty driver’s seat may eventually become an ordinary sight. The real measure of progress will be whether it makes life better for the people sharing the road.
