Because every use they've ever seen of that phrase up until now has been in sci-fi shows, where the autopilot is an AI that flies the ship while you go back to

Because every use they've ever seen of that phrase up until now has been in sci-fi shows, where the autopilot is an AI that flies the ship while you go back to the lounge to play 3d chess and drink dry ice cocktails? In a world where you're constantly bombarded with press releases about self driving cars and how theyre just around the corner, its not exactly unexpected to think that an autopilot system will pilot your car automatically, especially when tesla is so heavily associated with silicon valley. It may have a real use in planes or boats but approximately noone is familiar with that.