(Note: companies that could be impacted by the content of this article are listed at the base of the story (desktop version). This article uses third-party references to provide a bullish, bearish and balanced point of view; sources listed in the “Balanced” section)
Along with electric vehicles, the concept of autonomous vehicles is garnering significant media attention as technology leaders, including Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Amazon (AMZN), and Uber (UBER) seek to establish market leading positions in the nascent technology. While concepts include driverless taxis and/or delivery trucks, the technology has already advanced from driver assistance to an ability to pilot automated vehicles in a controlled environment. While still too early for practical application and mass adoption, technology advancements in this area could have profound implications for not just urban planning, jobs and convenience, but for social and political policies as well. Are there parallels to be drawn from President Trump’s statement following the tragic Boeing 737 Max incident when he tweeted “I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is better”? Below we scratch the surface on each side of the argument.