There is a big revolution afoot and it’s called driverless vehicles. Started by Google in 2008, un-manned wheels have been cruising around the world for years now, with Google running cars on international roads for over a decade now. This has raised a few concerns, but also revealed many new opportunities. To put simply, driverless cars threaten some jobs, but they also offer the opportunity for workers to evolve and pick new skills and to businesses, to be able to offer more to their remaining workforce. Overall, driverless cars have a long way to go, but many eco-friendly variations are already hitting the roads. Electricity-powered vehicles for industrial, transportation and personal use are already rolling out en masse. In some parts of the world, including Norway, Sweden and Finland, these cars will be coming in droves over the next years, and there seems to be little that can stop the trend. Even though the harsh climate of the northern countries isn’t too welcoming, electric and driverless vehicles seem to have found a way after all.
How Are Driverless Cars Possible Today?
The first question you are probably asking yourself is – how are driverless cars even possible? This is a great question. A blend of technological advancement, driverless cars are definitely not to be underestimated or dismissed. They combine several things:
- Clever AI and programming
- Decades of diligent testing
- Next-gen ION batteries
- Engineering prowess
The truth is that the world has been working towards these vehicles for 20 years, and the biggest companies are spending millions and patiently waiting for AI to learn what it needs to know about how cars should be driven. One of the highlights is AI, of course. In order to make sure that a driverless car can actually read the world the way a human can, and much better, in fact, Google spent the last 12 years just driving.
The AI started in neighbourhoods and then decided to go on an international trip, and it has. AI has been developing in other industries as well. For example, casinos today rely on AI to use facial recognition, but AI is also making games more fun at online casinos featured at TrueNorthCasinos, offering personalized choices and more. The gigantic technological leap we have seen in recent years is definitely not to be dismissed or ignored, and in 10 years’ time, we can expect driverless and eco-friendly, electric-powered cars to be the norm.
How Will Driverless Cars Impact Us?
While many people are predicting an apocalypse, one is very unlikely to happen. Fears that transportation jobs would disappear are understandable, yet, there are many upsides that would offset the simple fact that an employee needs to be retrained. For starters, governments can help people who might be replaced by technology and help them pick new skills that are actually helpful and to the benefit of society. The objection that we should stall progress so that someone can retire is counter-intuitive to human endeavour and our civilizations. The benefits of self-driving cars are really easy to see. In fact, you can name several all by yourself if you choose to, including:
- Reduction in vehicle incidents
- Removing car insurance and improving living standards
- Reduced liability for a person using a vehicle
- Shared driving and no need to own cars
Not all of these will be implemented everywhere. For example, carpooling in the better part of the United States won’t be the norm, as many people rely on a personal vehicle to drive around. However, having a driverless technology will make driving at any time of the day and night significantly cheaper as well.
Should We Fear Driverless Cars?
Of course, there will be certain changes in the way society functions. But there are silver linings too. Even if self-driving cars mean that you will probably and eventually lose your job in transportation, this won’t happen all out of a sudden. Companies will not simply replace humans for decades, and this is a good thing. People, who want to, can re-train quickly and efficiently and those coming next don’t have to even start on the job, but rather look for another profession. Eventually, it all boils down to your personal preparedness to actually address a challenge and make sure that you remain competitive. The truth is that we can all make a difference and make a change. Driverless cars won’t replace humans, but they will certainly make our lives so much more comfortable!