Driverless cars are starting to behave like humans – but not always in a good way. They’re honking, taking sharp turns, and rolling through stop signs as they try to learn from human driving habits.

The vehicles use artificial intelligence (AI) to observe and mimic human behavior, which could make them safer on the road. For example, Tesla’s Shadow Mode quietly monitors human driving and compares it to its own choices to improve autonomous performance over time.

However, this raises an important question: should self-driving cars mimic all human behavior? “We need to teach vehicles to drive like the best versions of ourselves – not the average ones,” says Jonathan Davenport, a senior director analyst at Gartner. He notes that some human adaptations are beneficial, but others, like speeding or rolling stops, are illegal.

University of San Francisco engineering professor William Riggs has been studying Waymo’s advances and riding in AVs multiple times a week. He’s noticed a shift: Waymo’s Jaguar SUVs now drive more naturally and confidently in chaotic traffic. They even honk when cut off!

The Benefits of Mimicking Human Behavior

Waymo’s autonomous tech, Waymo Driver, is powered by AI and has learned from over 100 million real-world miles and billions of simulated ones. It helps the vehicle understand its surroundings, predict others’ behavior, and navigate safely across varied driving conditions.

“Our Driver uses the horn in situations where human drivers would find it appropriate and helpful,” says David Margines, director of product management at Waymo. The company has even shared a video of its vehicle in San Francisco automatically honking and reversing to let a garbage truck back up – then safely continuing on its route.

What’s Next for Autonomous Vehicles?

AVs are starting to mimic human behavior in three major ways, according to Davenport. They’re becoming more assertive (Tesla’s Shadow Mode mimics human driving), adaptive (Mobileye’s RSS software adds human-like safety judgment), and communicative (Mercedes’ turquoise lights signal when its in autonomous mode).

“As autonomous technology grows, clear communication will be essential – not just between vehicles, but with all road users,” Davenport says. For its part, Waymo believes a “more confident and assertive” Waymo Driver is a safer vehicle.

Inspired by

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/4027533/driverless-cars-are-becoming-jerks-and-theyre-safer-because-of-it.html

Sources

• gartner.com
• sfchronicle.com
• waymo.com
• zoox.com
• utexas.edu