Recap: Can we ever trust self-driving cars? #ITWCchats

Updated January 26, 2017 at 3:30 PM EST

Update November 4, 2021: note that the Twitter handle embedded in the image of the tweet referring to Tesla is incorrect; Tesla’s handle is @Tesla

After months of seeing major tech brands compete with announcements about their leadership in the self-driving car space and a CES 2017 event in Las Vegas that was almost about cars more than it was about consumer technology, the autonomous car feels closer to reality than ever. But before these self-guided masses of steel and gasoline speed around our public roadways, we first have to ask – just because we can have self-driving cars, should we?

We opened this question up to the public (and what better way to get a pool of different thoughts and opinions from diverse groups of people than a Twitter chat?) and came to one conclusion: self-driving cars are a tough pill to swallow. Though many remain optimistic about innovative technology driving change, it’s up to us – the consumers, future drivers and pedestrians on the streets of an autonomous car world – to stay curious about new technology because it is the future.

The chat followed a recent blogging contest that ITBusiness.ca hosted for the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) National Business Technology Management student competition.

Thanks again to everyone who joined the conversation. Read on for some of the most memorable Tweets from the discussion, and learn more about our guest experts:

Steven Waslander, director of the Waterloo Autonomous Vehicles Laboratory (WAVE)

Also an assistant professor in the Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo, Waslander’s research interests are autonomous aerial and ground vehicles. He collaborates with Waterloo, Ont.-based robotics firms such as Aeryon Labs, Clearpath Robotics, and Nuvation, as well as being a member of the NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network. He’s the academic advisor to the University of Waterloo student teams that make autonomous vehicles for competitions such as NASA’s Sample Return Robot Challenge. He recently spoke with us about how he led a team that created software that was on display at CES 2017 in Renesas Electronics America’s highly autonomous car.

 Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada

Miller founded Esri Canada in 1984 and had helmed the company through three decades of growth. As a pioneer of GIS and digital mapping in Canada, he’s designed the geographic information systems and techniques that have become the foundation for many mapping applications. He’s an expert in using digital mapping technology for building smart communities and sees this as the path to implementing self-driving cars. Miller is a member of the Ontario Chamber of commerce’s Ontario Business Advisory council.

Q1) What do you think are the biggest misconceptions people have about self-driving cars? #ITWCchats

That cars will autonomously drive themselves. Reality will be cars connected to infrastructure with detailed #mapping and #V2X. #ITWCchats

— Alex Miller (@alexmiller50) January 26, 2017

A1. People believe self-driving cars are completely autonomous, rather than assisted by location tech #ITWCChats

— Project X (@ProjectXLtd) January 26, 2017

That self driving-cars will be everywhere in 2 years. Still so much to figure out to make them safe #itwcchats

— Steven Waslander (@stevewaslander) January 26, 2017

Q2a) @aarawji says hackers can compromise self-driving car systems to get data about drivers http://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/a-bump-in-the-road-can-autonomous-vehicles-do-more-harm-than-good/83634 #ITWCchats

Q2b) Do you think collecting personal data is necessary for self-driving cars, even if there’s a risk? #ITWCchats

There will be some need to authenticate the driver I'm sure. But that should be done with #privacy controls in space #ITWCchats https://t.co/ou01WjqkON

— Brian Jackson (@brianjjackson) January 26, 2017

Black box recording for accident investigation will make us all safer. #itwcchats

— Steven Waslander (@stevewaslander) January 26, 2017

We already give up so much of that data via apps such as Pokemon Go, and likely even Uber. #ITWCChats

— Jay @ HeyOrca (@JayBoMarketing) January 26, 2017

Q3) Is it too soon for self-driving cars to share the road with human drivers? When will it happen at scale? #ITWCchats

It'll happen in cities where speeds are low & controlled access highways where HOV lanes become robot car lanes. #ITWCchats

— Alex Miller (@alexmiller50) January 26, 2017

We'll see safety monitors first, self-driving features that watch and prevent certain accidents due to human error. #ITWCchats.

— Steven Waslander (@stevewaslander) January 26, 2017

Q4a) A Telsa driver was killed while using autopilot mode @MathiasCaron2 asked who should take the blame http://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/the-dream-of-the-future-the-autonomous-car/83683 #ITWCchats

Q4b) At what point do ‘drivers’ stop being responsible for what happens when they’re in the car? #ITWCchats

Q4b) A driver is always responsible for what happens no matter if its self-driving or not. Lets remember driving is a privilege #ITWCchats

— Paolo Del Nibletto (@PaoloCDN) January 26, 2017

A4) It's really the manufacturer's decision. Once the steering wheel is taken away, then driver can't be responsible #ITWCchats

— Brian Jackson (@brianjjackson) January 26, 2017

A4. When the car is fully autonomous, and people are not expected to watch the road or react – not their fault #ITWCChats

— Project X (@ProjectXLtd) January 26, 2017

Q5a) @EnoTrans says human error is the main cause of 90% of crashes, but @UMich says self-driving cars had higher crash rates #ITWCchats

Q5b) Will self-driving cars really reduce accidents on the road, or be even more faulty than humans? #ITWCchats

It will definitely be a slow, iterative process. Needed for safety. Ontario is fully in support of it! @ONtransport #ITWCchats

— Alex (@alovelylincoln) January 26, 2017

.@itbusinessca Never – as long as they are ‘drivers’ with controls in front of them. Same as a ‘pilot’. #ITWCchats

— Alex Miller (@alexmiller50) January 26, 2017

https://twitter.com/AlexTRadu/status/824686351052333056

A5. At first it will be dicey like any new tech, but with the kinks out it should be much safer. #ITWCChats

— Project X (@ProjectXLtd) January 26, 2017

Q6a) This MIT ‘game’ has players choose who dies when a self-driving car has a brake failure http://moralmachine.mit.edu/ #ITWCchats

Q6b) How will this problem be solved when self-driving cars are in the wild? #ITWCchats

A6. that level of "Sophie's Choice" rhetoric is beyond me! #ITWCChats

— Jay @ HeyOrca (@JayBoMarketing) January 26, 2017

An engineer's answer to MIT's ethical dilemma would be "make brakes that dont' fail" #ITWCchats

— Brian Jackson (@brianjjackson) January 26, 2017

Q6b: I think over time we'll have more predictive algorithms & cars talking to eachother minimizing having to make this choice. #itwcchats

— Mat Pancha (@mpancha) January 26, 2017

I have actually tried it, but didn't want to go pass question 2. Disturbing #ITWCchats

— Andrei Barany (@AndrewTheGuyCA) January 26, 2017

Q7) What is the biggest challenge self-driving cars and their drivers will have to overcome on the road? #ITWCchats

https://twitter.com/AlexTRadu/status/824688640353771521

at least in the transition period, cars that aren't autonomous yet. Human drivers = errors & unpredictable actions #ITWCchats

— Mandy Kovacs (@MandyVKovacs) January 26, 2017

A7. The initial challenge will being calm knowing your car is out of your control. Will take time to adjust #ITWCChats

— Project X (@ProjectXLtd) January 26, 2017

A7. The scared looks of people in normal cars, who see you looking at your backseat on the highway. #ITWCchats

— Andrei Barany (@AndrewTheGuyCA) January 26, 2017

Q8a) Autonomous cars are increasing efficiency & making a more productive economy, says @Pachchigar27 http://www.itbusiness.ca/blog/driving-into-the-future-hands-free-are-we-there-yet/83713 #ITWCchats

Q8b) At the same time, it could eliminate the jobs of cab drivers. Is that worth the trade off? #ITWCchats

Q8. Its a necessary evolution. Instead of driving cabs, the driving skill can switch to deliveries perhaps? #itwcchats

— Mat Pancha (@mpancha) January 26, 2017

A8a: Even semi-autonomous cars will dramatically improve road utilization by driving closer – full autonomy frees driver time. #ITWCchats

— Alex Miller (@alexmiller50) January 26, 2017

Traffic congestion costs the economy billions. If self-driving cars can help with that, it'll be worth it. #ITWCchats

— Brian Jackson (@brianjjackson) January 26, 2017

My boss has mentioned the idea that when cars are fully autonomous, you can send yours out during the day as a taxi. Thoughts? #ITWCChats

— Jay @ HeyOrca (@JayBoMarketing) January 26, 2017

Q9) Would you trust a self-driving car to chauffeur you around today? Five years from now? #ITWCchats 

A9: Today, not quite there and more because non-self driving cars are bountiful. I trust the cars though. #itwcchats

— Mat Pancha (@mpancha) January 26, 2017

Definitely not today. Ask me in 5 years #ITWCchats

— Mudeeha Yousaf (@MudeehaYousaf) January 26, 2017

A9. Yes, and absolutely yes. @TeslaMotors says their cars have all the hardware for full self-driving today! Software idk… #ITWCchats

— Andrei Barany (@AndrewTheGuyCA) January 26, 2017

A9. 5 years might be optimistic, but I dislike driving in general so it would be a welcome change. #ITWCChats

— Jay @ HeyOrca (@JayBoMarketing) January 26, 2017