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We change reality all the time to adapt to new technology - this is why we interacted with the first computers via punch cards rather than microphones and camer
by Closi 5y ago
We change reality all the time to adapt to new technology - this is why we interacted with the first computers via punch cards rather than microphones and cameras. Were we coddling computers? Kind of, but solutions have to be a combination of what is possible.
I guess there is a sliding scale with self driving cars:
* Low technology, high societal or infrastructure change (for example we could build a totally different road network and dig cables into it, not practical but possible with technology 20 years ago!)
* Medium technology, medium societal or infrastructure change.
* High technology, low societal or infrastructure change.
* Very high technology, no/little societal or infrastructure change (eg AGI that can interpret hand signals).
All of these are possible versions of self driving cars - there is no “one” solution. Having AGI and going for the last bullet point isn’t the only option.
As an example, when the 1950s imagined robotic vacuum cleaning they pictured a standing robot that would use your existing appliances - so they might have said “we need to work out how to pick up and use a household vaccum cleaner in order to make a useful household robot, which requires AGI!”. We now know that a better solution is the roomba, and AGI isn’t required.
I personally think we will inevitably need some level of societal change, legislation change and possibly even infrastructure change to make self driving cars happen sooner.