Autonomous vehicles are cars or other modes of transportation that can drive themselves using advanced sensors and AI Systems. They analyze real-time information about their surroundings and make decisions regarding speed, direction, and braking without direct human control.
They matter because they bring deep ethical and legal questions about accountability, privacy, and human rights. If a self-driving car causes harm, it is unclear whether responsibility lies with the manufacturer, software developer, or passenger. Such vehicles also gather vast amounts of data, potentially infringing upon personal privacy unless handled responsibly. Additionally, they can drastically transform employment in transportation and introduce social inequalities if access is limited. While these systems have the potential to reduce crashes and offer more freedom to people who cannot drive, deploying them without robust testing and fair regulations would be reckless. Governments and industries must ensure safety, transparency, and public trust before allowing autonomous vehicles to reshape our roads.
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