[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.