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by ghaff 3888 days ago
It's an interesting question in that properly maintained and properly driven automobiles do have accidents that are clearly no one's fault--skidding on a patch of ice, deer running into the road, etc. Perhaps a more skilled or more cautious driver could avoid such an accident--or not. I'm hard-pressed to think of many other examples where a product used as intended will nonetheless cause harm to the user or others with some finite probability--but aren't considered the fault of the manufacturer. Pharmaceuticals and other types of medical equipment probably come closest. (Though drug companies certainly face lawsuits for side effects all the time.)
1 comments

Chainsaws and handguns are probably other examples.

Fast food is another. (Alcohol, tobacco?)

Side note: I would argue that your patch of ice example is not nearly as good as the deer one. Skidding on a patch of ice and crashing is, IMO, simply driving too fast for conditions.

Fast food etc. though is more "stuff that's bad for you taken to excess" as opposed to something that can randomly get in an accident though.

I agree the deer is the better example. You can have patches of unexpected black ice though. I've skidded a few times though never had an accident.

There's certainly gear one uses in activities that have some inherent danger like your chainsaw example. I guesxs things like skis and helmets could be another. The difference with an AI though is that it's the machinery itself that is making the decisions.