[ChuckMcM]

I was really fascinated by that comment as well, but not for privacy reasons, I believe that while it would be able to peruse server logs at Tesla to understand where a particular car was at a particular time, that is no worse than OnStar or current phone GPS tracking.

The interesting thing is the data set of watching humans drive and using models to drive for the same place. This only works if the "place" is not notably different from the model, say a semi has hit the overhead and its now hanging into the roadway, can the car distinguish between a sign hanging sideways and one that is attached normally?

Severe storms and down power lines is another interesting question. Does autopilot recognize the environment has been grossly modified and refuse to drive? Earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, all can grossly change the environment at a particular geocoded location.

What if a Tesla owner's club decides to use a piece of highway 58 out in Nevada as a race strip? Does autopilot assume that when you hit this point you are supposed to stomp the accelerator and go as fast as you can? (ok that is a stretch)

It's the data without the knowledge. Something machine learning is bad at (hence turning chat bots into vitriol spewing fascists). VERY interesting times.

[grecy]

> say a semi has hit the overhead and its now hanging into the roadway, can the car distinguish between a sign hanging sideways and one that is attached normally? Severe storms and down power lines is another interesting question.... Earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, all can grossly change the environment at a particular geocoded location.

Humans are not perfect in those situations either, and cause plenty of fatal crashes.

Remember, autopilot doesn't have to be anywhere near perfect. It only has to be better than humans are now.

[Fej]

To be honest, it really has to be close to perfect - else, the public will deem the technology killer, even if it is in fact safer.

[URSpider94]

I think that's what we are going to find out. So far, I haven't seen anyone with pitchforks and torches demanding Tesla be stopped after the first autopilot fatality.

I used to think about it the way you do, but lately I think if they can make the numbers work out, then there will be some insurance companies willing to step in and turn risk of lawsuits into a manageable cost of doing business.

[grecy]

You mean like autopilot on commercial airlines?

Or like x-ray machines?

Or like any other machinery that is automated and kills the odd person here and there?

These cases show us it doesn't need to be perfect at all.

[jacquesm]

> Earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, all can grossly change the environment at a particular geocoded location.

As do other car accidents.

[ChuckMcM]

Interesting to think what an autopilot system should do when it is suddenly in the presence of a car accident. I would love to read about frustrations at the NHSTA trying to crash test cars with autopilots that kept swerving just before they hit the test barrier.