Autonomous vehicles are likely to become a reality very soon. The driverless car technology can simplify many human-resource intensive tasks like delivering pizzas. These cars are likely to become part of the road traffic very soon.
Just a few days back, Ford Motor Co. ran an experiment to deliver Domino’s Pizza using its autonomous cars in Miami. The company plans to start rolling out their driverless car in the market by 2021. Similarly, Tesla, Toyota, General Motors, Nissan, Waymo and Audi plant to roll out these cars by 2020 or 2021.
The self-driven pizza delivery car technology is implemented in a very simple manner. A customer needs to order a pizza through a cellphone app. He receives an SMS with a code number. When the self-driven car arrives, customer needs to write the code number on a tablet that is fixed on car’s window. When the car’s rear window rolls down, you take away your dinner.
Autonomous cars are supposed to save many lives. The driving accuracy of these cars is phenomenal. The data suggest that 95% of the accidents are caused by human error. Drivers that fall asleep at the wheel or text while drive or are drunk. This major problem is solved by autonomous cars.
?If the autonomous cars become a reality and they are offered at a reasonable price, it won’t be long before taxi services and ride-hailing platforms invest in these cars. Uber, Lyft and private ride-hailing platforms are already experimenting with the driverless taxi services. The problem that everybody is conveniently ignoring is, what will happen with the more than millions of taxi drivers around the world?
The commercial autonomous vehicles are likely to be trucks, where driving conditions are safer. There are over 1 million truck drivers in the US alone. Amazon, FedEx, DHL and other logistics companies will soon start using these vehicles for package deliveries. Which will further vanish the delivery jobs.
These companies are discussing the ways to re-train the displaced workers. But finding the replacement jobs for millions of workers would be a nightmare. While the autonomous vehicle's technology is progressing and becoming a reality, the same can put thousands of workers out of the job.