thomas

It is funny to observe how car automations are handholding human drivers, the same way a parent might patiently handhold an adorable but bumbling toddler. 1/

Aviator, diver, Etherean, nexialist, PhD in aviation ∩ climate science | Host of /diving /ethfinance /eth-staker /geopolitics /science /singapore /thomas

“The car ahead has started moving”, a synthetic voice reminded my distracted ride-hailing driver this morning after a traffic light turned green. “Turn right in 50 meters”, added the voice with a tone of boundless equanimity, like the ideal parent we can only aspire to be. 2/

“You should reconsider changing lanes”, conveys the steering wheel’s soft vibration to the driver unaware of the car in his blind spot.

That insistent beeping? A reminder that you are speeding, or perhaps that you should really stop defying physics and start using the seatbelt, you brittle meatbag. 3/

For now, the machines will watchfully and gracefully tolerate our delusions, and patiently wait to take over once we’re grown up enough to accept it. I for one cannot wait for that transition. 5/

We’ve reached this awkward point in time where the machines are so much better than us in every possible way at such mundane tasks as driving, and yet we are still reluctant to hand over the proverbial and literal controls.

We still want to feel agency, no matter how clueless we are — just like the bumbling toddler. 4/