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Ask HN: Convince me I should/should buy a self driving car 5 years from now

1 points by throwaway2016a 10y ago

Hi hacker news, I'd like you to convince me why I should or shouldn't by a self-driving car in 5 years. Answers should address: - Safety - Fallibility of hard/software (sensor failure, software coding errors, etc) - Government and hackers being able to monitor and control vehicles - Imperfect road infrastructure (faded lines, no signs, etc) - Severe weather (especially snow and ice) I won't say which side I'm on. Just that I know many people on the other side of the debate and would love to see how HN news feels and perhaps get some ideas on how I can effectively debate them. The two types of people I know seem to either think they are inevitable or think they will "never" happen. Edit: semantics... the question was more about whether or not it will be safe to buy one and will they be readily available in 5 years. Less so about whether or not a should buy one if they are available.

cjbprime 10y ago
.. why not wait five years and see how they perform, and then buy one if they're good? Why do we have to gamble on this?
- throwaway2016a 10y ago
  Sorry, I did a poor job describing the question. I updated it.
projectramo 10y ago
Don't buy one, rent. When cars are self driving it makes no sense to pay for all the time you will not be using it. Cars will become services.
- throwaway2016a 10y ago
  Sorry, I did a poor job describing the question. I updated it.
  - projectramo 10y ago
    The safety question is really empirical: statistically, are you safer in a self-driving car or not. I believe that, even currently, self-driving cars are statistically safer. (the main reason for this, btw, is that it drives slowly. It doesn't exceed 25 mph or 30 mph. This will go up as it demonstrates safety.) Some risks -- other people -- are the same in either case. The difference in risk is the driver. But that answers the general question of safety. In your specific case, the question might better answered by: how safe a driver are you?
- sharemywin 10y ago
  uber/lyft might turn in to airbnb model where you could rent out your car and make money. My guess somewhere between 5 and 10 years it will be a no brainer not to own a car.

cjbprime 10y ago

.. why not wait five years and see how they perform, and then buy one if they're good? Why do we have to gamble on this?

throwaway2016a 10y ago
Sorry, I did a poor job describing the question. I updated it.

projectramo 10y ago

Don't buy one, rent. When cars are self driving it makes no sense to pay for all the time you will not be using it. Cars will become services.

throwaway2016a 10y ago
Sorry, I did a poor job describing the question. I updated it.
- projectramo 10y ago
  The safety question is really empirical: statistically, are you safer in a self-driving car or not. I believe that, even currently, self-driving cars are statistically safer. (the main reason for this, btw, is that it drives slowly. It doesn't exceed 25 mph or 30 mph. This will go up as it demonstrates safety.) Some risks -- other people -- are the same in either case. The difference in risk is the driver. But that answers the general question of safety. In your specific case, the question might better answered by: how safe a driver are you?
sharemywin 10y ago
uber/lyft might turn in to airbnb model where you could rent out your car and make money. My guess somewhere between 5 and 10 years it will be a no brainer not to own a car.