What happens when an autonomous taxi hits a pedestrian? Is it fined? Does it go to jail? Death penalty?
Could driverless cars own themselves?
61–65 of 65 posts
Re: Could driverless cars own themselves?
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it can be convincingly argued that profit maximizing is social good maximizing, especially in technology. See: every technology ever :)
And that's why open source is profit maximizing and all good programming languages are for-profit, as well as the internet itself?
Wait, do you seriously think that Sun, Bell, Ericsson (java, c, erlang) set out to maximize social good? Of course everybody knows that the internet is powered by well wishes and puppy dreams, not costly telecommunication hardware.
Re: Could driverless cars own themselves?
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
And I think for the sake of the thought exercise you have to consider what happens to related markets — specifically in this scenario, risk. If vehicles are no longer being sold to people, neither is auto insurance (at least in today's form).
Car insurance is sold to companies today, which are not natural persons regardless of bizarre laws.
Ultimately companies (the shares) are owned by persons and managed by persons. This is very fundamental to our (Western ?) system. Its nearly impossible to start a company or have a bank account without identifying the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO). Only possible in a very few (questionable) places.
Re: Could driverless cars own themselves?
#64I think the legal consequences would by far surpass any of the more practical aspects mentioned here ? Something of value NOT owned (ultimately) by a person of a government ? What if there is a flaw in the decision software and something goes horribly wrong ? Would not be the first time... The software is written by someone, the decision to use the software was done by someone, etc. Still if really no one else is to…
>What if there is a flaw in the decision software and something goes horribly wrong ? This argument applies to people too and we have ways to deal with it other than people being owned.
Yes we have ways to deal with that: taking their money and/or freedom. Don't forget that revenge is an important element. Taking the 'freedom' of a car (scraping it ?) probably feels less satisfying then putting a man in jail. Especially if, for example, a family member is unnecessary and severely harmed.
'Bad luck' and 'it could happen to anyone' might be sufficient in the past, but nowadays we like to make someone (and not something) responsible. A person to take away his freedom or a big company to get a lot of money. A car has neither.
Re: Could driverless cars own themselves?
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
Saddling people with debt, then paying them a minimum wage. Effectively they become slaves unable to leave their employer due to dependencies on things such as lunch programs, health insurance, leave benefits. This system of wage-slavery is enforced today through police, lawyers, bankers and politicians working in accidental concert to ensure that you must go into debt (by renting or buying a house), and that you mus…
If we had debt slavery we wouldn't have bankruptcy laws.
Bankruptcy laws don't help you leave the ghetto.