People who worry about the risk of accidents should also take into account the risk of falling behind technologically and economically. I'd argue that the latter would cause (or fail to prevent) far more deaths. If China wants to lead the world on this then more power to them. Maybe the US will step up their game in response.
Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
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Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#12There is so much talk in the current rhetoric about the US losing its dominance in science and technology. But it is a tad myopic to not be excited about a country of a billion people pushing the boundaries of what is possible. It is not a zero sum game and we will all benefit.
How? How do the uneducated in the rust belt benefit? And perhaps more importantly when? I agree that technology for society in general make us better of over time, but society consists of individuals who don't necessarily benefit from this. In fact 12 million jobs are in danger of being lost to automated cars. How are they going to benefit from that?
> In fact 12 million jobs are in danger of being lost to automated cars. How are they going to benefit from that?
Jobs are going to be lost anyways, whether from cars or from a different technology.
Are you arguing the problem is that people aren't able to continue to do trivial things which technology can easily replace them at? Or that they will not have a relevant skill / source of income?
If the former than we should give hoes and scythes back to 90% of the population and get rid of agricultural machinery. If the later - it's a problem that needs to be addressed one way or another, self-driving cars are really a minor detail here..
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well the current generation will suffer, but the next generation and future ones will benefit from self driving cars.
Who owns the future though? While I am not a nationalist and I think it's commendable that the human race is making progress, I'm concerned that advances in technology are causing troubling concentrations of wealth among those who operate and control the technology.
What do you suggest though? Should we intentionally hold back technology so that factory workers and bus drivers have jobs? Especially as these automation schemes generally have the promise of drastically increased safety.
I agree it is a problem that people will be put out of work, but that is kind of an inevitability. Which is why a lot of people are arguing that basic income needs to be investigated much more closely.
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#14Don't forget that they hired the guy behind Google's self driving car, Andrew Ng: http://venturebeat.com/2014/07/30/andrew-ng-baidu/
Does it takes just a hire to compete against all Google's patents?
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#15[deleted]
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#16[deleted]
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#17Don't forget that they hired the guy behind Google's self driving car, Andrew Ng: http://venturebeat.com/2014/07/30/andrew-ng-baidu/ Does it takes just a hire to compete against all Google's patents?
"compete" would imply Chinese recognition of US patents, which seems hit-or-miss.
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#18Don't forget that they hired the guy behind Google's self driving car, Andrew Ng: http://venturebeat.com/2014/07/30/andrew-ng-baidu/ Does it takes just a hire to compete against all Google's patents?
Aren't you thinking of trade secrets by that statement? Patents would let anyone do it you just have to pay google their fee.
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Who owns the future though? While I am not a nationalist and I think it's commendable that the human race is making progress, I'm concerned that advances in technology are causing troubling concentrations of wealth among those who operate and control the technology.
What do you suggest though? Should we intentionally hold back technology so that factory workers and bus drivers have jobs? Especially as these automation schemes generally have the promise of drastically increased safety. I agree it is a problem that people will be put out of work, but that is kind of an inevitability. Which is why a lot of people are arguing that basic income needs to be investigated much more clos…
Thomas Piketty has articulated a path forward. I support his view that governments ought to step in and institute a global tax on wealth.
Re: Baidu’s self-driving cars begin public test in Wuzhen, China
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
How? How do the uneducated in the rust belt benefit? And perhaps more importantly when? I agree that technology for society in general make us better of over time, but society consists of individuals who don't necessarily benefit from this. In fact 12 million jobs are in danger of being lost to automated cars. How are they going to benefit from that?
> In fact 12 million jobs are in danger of being lost to automated cars. How are they going to benefit from that? Jobs are going to be lost anyways, whether from cars or from a different technology. Are you arguing the problem is that people aren't able to continue to do trivial things which technology can easily replace them at? Or that they will not have a relevant skill / source of income? If the former than we sh…
I was responding to the OP who said it wasn't a zero zum game.
Not sure why we are suddenly discussing what I propose instead.
All I am saying is that it's easy to forget that real people are effected by progress and that the narrative that we all benefit is kind of disingenuous from that perspective and I believe we need to think harder on what to do about that because it's only going to increase.