[fairity]

> I, for one, don’t want to live in a world where my ability to go anywhere is decided by Google and Uber.

Seems like a red herring. I think it’s safe to assume that you will be able to own your own SDC, and the faster Google gets this tech scaled, the sooner you can affordably purchase one.

[spaceman_2020]

Will the SDC not get any updates over the internet? What Google decides to lock me out? Or show me unskippable ads before starting the car?

I don’t think the self driving car cheerleaders have thought this out.

[fxtentacle]

If there's no law to prevent it, "traditional" cars will also soon come with unskippable ads. At least, that's the way how "traditional" TV manufacturers went. And if there is a law against it, Google or VW isn't a meaningful distinction anymore.

[_ea1k]

Nothing will stop someone from building a SDC that doesn't have the ability to be locked out like that.

The tech to do this is getting easier each year.

[spaceman_2020]

We’re down to a duopoly in the smartphone market. For most of us without a desktop/laptop (the bulk of global internet users), our digital lives are essentially controlled by Apple and Google.

Why would this be any different with SDCs? The tech might be getting easier, but current market forces make it far easier for the big players to monopolize the market.

[_ea1k]

There are a lot of competing car makers. In theory, they should select from multiple competing offerings.

Then again, they haven't always done well with that in supplier selection. You might be right, they might end up largely tying themselves to a few suppliers.

OTOH, the network effects shouldn't be as strong. It isn't hard to imagine FOSS options like OpenPilot continuing to exist.

[sottol]

Selling self-driving cars at cost is not the profit-maximizing strategy here.

With Google (and big tech) squeezing more and more for profits, some here even proclaiming it the new IBM, I don't see this ending with consumers winning.

[fairity]

I think you’re assuming (incorrectly) that Google will have a monopoly on SDC technology. There are already many big players in the space, so the profit maximizing strategy is probably much closer to what the consumer actually wants.

It doesn’t seem to me like there’s a big competitive moat other than $xxb in R&D costs, so if there is unmet consumer demand for self-owned SDC, it’s probably safe to assume someone will cough up the R&D costs.

[ChatGTP]

Would I be purchasing it from Google ? Android Car (tm)?

[fairity]

Google or someone they partner with will likely be an option. Another will be Cruise or whoever they partner with. Or, Tesla.

[ChatGTP]

Not sure that really makes much difference, it will be like buying an android phone. Full of tracking and spyware.