he rapid surge in AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace . From new ways of working in marketing , to optimising production lines in manufacturing , the change is happening across sectors .

However , one area that stands to benefit is autonomous technology . Although even at its conception it heavily leaned on AI , the growth in its abilities and accessibility , alongside supporting infrastructure like 5G , has meant that we are closer than ever to seeing things like driverless cars or robotic helpers .

Waymo , a leader in self-driving taxis , recently announced its Waymo One is now available to anyone in Los Angeles following trials in Phoenix and San Francisco .

Yet , as this transformative wave gains momentum , it is not without challenges . One key hurdle is the inherent risk associated with AI systems operating in dynamic , real-world environments .

“ A poignant concern at present is the risk of autonomous vehicles making errors and causing damage to people or property in the real world ,” says Alexandre de Vigan , Founder and CEO of Nfinite .

Currently , autonomous cars can operate across various countries in the world . In Germany , the Level 3 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is allowed to use its autonomous driving feature but only on stretches of specific roads , like a portion of motorway .

128 January 2025