[ExI] self driving cars

[spike]

>... On Behalf Of spike...
_______________________________________________

>...I suspect the market penetration of software-driven cars will be
remarkably fast if we do it right.  Brad Templeton had it exactly right: we
must do all robo-cars in such a way that they require no infrastructure
change.  Reason: anything that requires government decision-making or any
actual change of anything currently in place will move a glacier pace
compared to what individuals with money can do themselves...  spike

This post is actually about self-driving cars, but allow me a preface.  Some
internet groups forbid replying to one's own posts.  But I have not been
able to convince myself that there is any harm in it, in spite of lengthy
auto-negotiations and even some heated arguments with myself.  So unless I
manage to make inroads into changing my mind, I see no reason for forbidding
me from replying to myself.  As the semi-autocratic temporary assistant
deputy vice-moderator, I extend to you permission and even a warm invitation
to reply to your own posts as well, if you come up with a further thought on
a topic.  I declare all self-replies fair game.  If I convince me otherwise,
I will tell myself, then pass along what I told me.  Of course, then
self-replies would be forbidden, so I wouldn't be able to post it in reply
to this post, so I might end up being the only one who knows it has been
forbidden.  The mind boggles.

In the early days of Extropians, we spent much time discussing individual
efforts in affecting change, as opposed to relying on governments which have
imbedded architecture specifically designed to impede change (see US
Senate.)  With regard to self-driving cars, the market penetration of
self-driving cars is something that can be done entirely by single-investor
effort: if you come up with a pile of money right now, Professor Thune and
the lads at Stanford will build you a self-driver.  The state of California
allows you to operate it, so long as you sit behind the wheel.

Unlike the early days of the personal computer, the internet and the cell
phone revolutions, we don't need to wait for anything.  In all three of
those major changes, the early days were unsatisfying, expensive and
suffered from a severe lack of support infrastructure.  Robo-cars have
everything they need already in place.  They are expensive, not having
benefitted from the economies of scale, but I expect it to happen quickly.
The design costs have been paid.  Step back and watch the money flow.

The market penetration of robo-cars will be a poster child example for what
the money-empowered individual can do.  The 1% will lead the way.  There
will be plenty of wildly-cheering followers, with both hands free to shake
the pom-poms as we roll down the freeway.

spike