This podcast episode discusses the rise of self-driving taxis in San Francisco, focusing on companies like Waymo and Cruise that are leading the development of self-driving car technology. The hosts of the podcast share their firsthand experience riding in a self-driving Waymo taxi and highlight the history and advancements in self-driving car technology. The episode also explores the locations where self-driving cars are stored at night, known as depots, and the challenging driving conditions in San Francisco that make it an ideal testing ground for self-driving cars. The potential safety benefits of self-driving cars are discussed, as well as the concerns and backlash against them, including incidents that have raised skepticism about their driving records. The episode also mentions an activist group called Safe Street Rebel, which opposes self-driving cars and uses traffic cones to disrupt their operation. The episode concludes by discussing the ongoing debates and controversies surrounding self-driving cars, with a focus on a recent meeting of the California Public Utilities Commission. Despite the opposition, self-driving cars are being tested and developed in San Francisco, and their introduction in other cities and states seems inevitable.
Anti-commonsence
1. The podcast mentions that there are concerns about the safety and readiness of self-driving cars for mass adoption, which is a valid point considering the technology is still being developed and there have been incidents that raised questions about their reliability.
2. The activist group using traffic cones to temporarily disable self-driving cars may be seen as an unconventional and potentially dangerous way of expressing opposition.
