It seems like we write an article about the dangers of rushing AI technology every other week. And this is the other week.

Driverless cars operated by Cruise caused a massive traffic jam in Austin, Texas this week. The company operates a driverless taxi service that promises to pick people up from one location and drop them off at another. Cruise operated out of San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle before settling in Texas.

The cars have caused a number of incidents in Austin. Drivers and pedestrians have reported near misses caused by Cruise vehicles. Drivers such as Jinous Rouhani have reported nearly being hit by Cruise vehicles while stopped at traffic lights. This week’s incident occurred near Austin Community College when several Cruise vehicles got confused and caused a traffic jam in East Austin.

Cruise reported a sharp increase in passenger hires which have resulted in Cruise having problems. The most recent incident was caused by 20, twenty. 2-0 Cruise vehicles as the source of the problem.

Cruise’s Nonchalant Response Is Problematic

Cruise’s general manager, Michael Staples, commented to the press how one vehicle got confused. Then another, and another which caused a, “domino effect,” causing the traffic jam. The company’s nonchalant and laissez faire response to this is unacceptable. Cruise operating 20 extra cars shouldn’t have caused a calamity. 20 extra human drivers would have to do something really stupid to cause the mess their driverless cars caused.

The company needs to provide answers on why it happened, and explain how they intend to resolve the issue.

Claiming an increase in ridership ain’t it.

The Public Shouldn’t Be an AI Simulation

The public at-large shouldn’t be a playground for AI companies to test out their latest wares. The stakes are way too high. Driverless vehicles have been involved in a number of accidents and a handful of fatalities since operating. We’re nowhere near explainable AI and yet we’re throwing more of these devices into the public.

The citizens of Austin have petitioned their city council people to limit the use of these vehicles given the high rate of incidents. People shouldn’t be crash dummies.

I’ve only seen a few driverless cars in the DC area. This area is congested, full of pedestrians, and a confusing street patten outsiders struggle with. I’m hoping the technology reaches maturity before we start seeing Johnny Cabs roaming the Nation’s capital.