A Level 5 autonomous, self-driving vehicle would drive safely and reliably anywhere and under any conditions without human intervention. That exciting idea was promised by some researchers (Ford, Tesla), but nobody's gotten there yet and it doesn't look like any car company will attain it any time soon.
But some companies are focused on Level 4 instead of Level 5. Waymo is having some success with it, describing itself as "The world's first autonomous ride-hailing service," operating now in San Francisco and Phoenix. Like Level 5, their electric vehicle needs no human intervention; but it only operates in defined areas under defined conditions.
Cruise tried to do the same thing but with perhaps a little less focus on safety. California revoked their permit for autonomous driving vehicles.
Waymo is still losing an estimated billion dollars per year. Eventually they must turn a profit. Neither investors nor employees will be able to keep the company going without it.
from Mind Matters
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