Dawn of a new age: Autonomous Vehicles
An autonomous vehicle is one that is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. More and more we are hearing of this technology and how it will change our lives, but will it change our lives for the better? Ford has announced they are intent to have fully autonomous vehicles in commercial operation for a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service beginning in 2021. Ford says they will be mass producing vehicles capable of driving fully autonomously within five years. No steering wheel. No gas pedals. No brake pedals. A driver will not be required. Also recently a convoy of self-driving trucks drove across Europe and arrived at the Port of Rotterdam.
The benefits and cost savings from a business point of view are obvious and staggering. Autonomous vehicles can go without needing breaks for food, bathroom, or rest. They will go all night and all day long. No wages to pay either. There will result in massive improvements to productivity, but will this help society as a whole or will it serve to kill the economy as mass job-loss is created? Think about all the jobs that are in the driving profession, cabs, buses, trucks... many are well paying jobs too. With the loss of so many quality jobs just around the corner can the remaining industries support the massive influx of out of work drivers seeking new employment? Also automation is popping up everywhere. We have self serve checkout lines at grocery store and fast food venues. If everything is automated and runs autonomously what will the jobs of the future be?
There are many questions to ask ourselves going forward. One thing is for sure... we are at the dawn of a new age that will change the topography of human kind much like the dawn of the industrial age did.
What questions should we as a society be asking?
What do you think of the new age?
What will be the disadvantages?
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