re: U.S. consumers buck investors' rush to self-driving cars : study

It is a scary proposition to say the least. Perhaps that makes me a selfish a-hole, but in a moment of life or death, I'd prefer my instincts and subconscious over that of an algorithm. I think it is pretty clear that if this happens for the mainstream that the AI will prioritize public and overall safety over those of the occupants of the car.

Even if you flip the scenario around, it is still worrisome. What if the safest thing to do is to run over a pedestrian instead of trying to avoid her? What if "her" is a 4 year old?

People like to shun those who are cautious about automated vehicles but they've go no answer for these types of questions because they're not even asking them. All they see is a chauffeur and the ability to sleep on the way to work, and I don't blame them, but there are serious issues at play too. As I said earlier, I think an automated lane or two on the interstate or major highways is plausible in the next 15-20 years, but widespread automated vehicles in a neighborhood or driving down main street are farther away than people think, at least IMO.