In 2024, the autonomous car is struggling

©STR/Tesla Motors/AFP

In 2024, autonomous driving is stagnating despite tempting technological promises. Some vehicles park themselves and follow lines, but real advances in safety and autonomy still seem out of reach. And do we really want them anyway? ? The Italian brand Alfa Romeo made fun of it in 2017, and it's still relevant today.

The SAE International organization has developed an indicator of the level of development of autonomous systems. As explained by Les Numériques, level 2 is assigned when the car is capable of parking itself, as well as assisting the driver in following lines, but without allowing them to give up the steering wheel. Many vehicles are at this stage today. 

Really gimmicky. Designed to help drivers, these systems actually require increased vigilance. Their operation relies on constant human supervision. As a study by LendingTree points out, the accident rate of Tesla drivers, even with Autopilot, is disturbing…

Without even talking about safety, autonomous cars risk taking an absurd control over our lives; the more advanced the technology is, the more it will be up to the driver to adapt to it. We already realize this when we approach a Tesla for the first time today. And these oddities that we are promised, Alfa Romeo Israel already made fun of them in 2017, through an advertisement for its Giulia model. The idea is simple: if you want to stay in control and continue to experience the sensations that driving provides, then you have to forget about autonomous driving.

Autonomous cars are a bit like magic: the promise of an incredible spectacle, but the strings are still too visible.

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