Login

MalabarJag · 07-23-2017, 10:25 AM

(07-23-2017, 09:57 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: So I guess there is some disagreement about how fast this is going to happen, so let me re-phrase the question.

Putting aside our disagreement as to how fast this is going to happen, and ASSUMING that this is coming fast, and that millions of drivers are going to be unemployed as a result, what do you think we should do for those people?

Remember, a lot of people predicted that American jobs would be lost as factories moved overseas. And yet the factory workers were forgotten. And in this case, the problem won't just be American, it will be a world-wide problem.

So here we have a completely predictable situation. Have we learned anything? What do we do about it?

Tough problem, and this is just the start. Eventually most jobs today will be done by robots.

Taxing robotic production and doling out money to the displaced workers does not solve the problem because people need to work to feel productive, but it's the least that will need to be done. Maybe the work part can be filled with sports and games.

I expect robotic trucks to come a lot sooner than some people on this board. Robotic taxis maybe not, because a lot of people will not feel safe riding with just a computer to steer and make decisions.

And there's still plenty of work to be done on computerized driving. I recently drove a 2017 Corolla (rental). The cruise control slammed off when the computer judged I was too close to the car ahead of me, much sooner than I would have turned off the cruise control, and I'm a very conservative driver as far as how close I drive to the car in front of me. It did not just turn off the cruise control, it actually engaged the brake too. In that case the computer made a very conservative choice in the direction of safety, but I wonder how safe it would have been had a car been following too close behind me. Frankly, I still prefer my own judgement and won't be buying a new Corolla unless that's fixed.

"Why should I give information to you when all you want to do is find something wrong with it?"