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It's a super interesting subject, but I don't really buy the argument that this will drive down costs for the consumer. Never mind that whole better standard of
by n0tsofastpal 11y ago
It's a super interesting subject, but I don't really buy the argument that this will drive down costs for the consumer. Never mind that whole better standard of living line...that's just cheerleading. Companies have shown over and over again in the last two decades that they are capable of absorbing those new profits from efficiencies.
- hellameta 11y agoI agree there are examples that show what you suggest. There are far more examples to suggest the opposite though. If the technology becomes widely available and there are enough independent companies to promote competition rather than collusion, the prices have no choice but to go down.
- thedogeye 11y agoHow much did you pay for the super computer in your hand?
- tyingq 11y agoHow much did UPS/Fedex shipping prices go down when fuel prices dropped? (hint, they went up).
- doyoulikeworms 11y agowhat about their other costs?
- tyingq 10y agoUPS and Fedex raise their rates every year in January with a figure that far exceeds inflation or other indexed costs. https://www.lojistic.com/pdf/UPS-Fedex-General-Price-Increase-History.pdf https://www.lojistic.com/pdf/UPS-Fedex-General-Price-Increas...
- the_economist 10y agoOcean and air freight real prices are the cheapest they have ever been.
- tyingq 10y agoThat doesn't necessarily trickle down to consumers though. As mentioned, it certainly doesn't in the case of UPS/Fedex. The high level question is what happens with the cost savings driverless trucking brings? Does it turn into profit or reduced pricing to consumers?