You see them everywhere you go. They’re the autonomous vehicles that are seen cruising our streets, roads, and highways, and if you haven’t had the privilege to see them live and just on Instagram or Facebook, well they are definitely real. 

Like mysterious supervillains in the movies, the autonomous vehicles of today seem to have power and control that make them the center of amazement, and intrigue. 

But what of the future? What’s in store for the autonomous vehicles of tomorrow? Likely, it’ll be a future increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). AI is becoming an ever-present and integral part of our everyday lives, and it isn’t hard to guess that this same technology will find its way into the world of autonomous vehicles in the near future.

That’s why, in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the role of AI in the future of autonomous vehicles. First, we’ll examine the current state of autonomous driving technology, then follow that by looking into what’s already in the pipeline and what’s yet to come for self-driving vehicles. 

Let’s dive all the way in, shall we?

The Current State Of Autonomous Vehicles

The current state of autonomous vehicles is marred by legal and societal complications and issues. Laws, regulations, and ethics are all among the factors that need to be taken into account in order to ensure the safe implementation of autonomous vehicles and to protect the general public from potential dangers.

On top of that, the issue of artificial intelligence itself is still murky. The technology is far from perfect and still requires plenty of fine-tuning, both in terms of its programming and in terms of the response and decision-making processes that are involved. As such, it’s crucial to understand both the advantages and limitations of current AI technology in order to get a better idea of where it’s heading.

ALSO READ: THE ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF AI: SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?

The Potential Impact Of AI

AI-powered autonomous vehicles could revolutionize the way we travel and commute. By uncoupling the need for human drivers and freeing up the system from the need for direct control and human error, it’s very possible that AI will dramatically revolutionize our infrastructure, leading to fewer human drivers, less pollution, and fewer accidents.

In terms of the autonomous vehicles themselves, AI could make them significantly more advanced and capable.

For starters, AI could make them much smarter. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and the wealth of data and knowledge that it can bring to the table, the self-driving vehicles of tomorrow could have a much better understanding of their environment and of the people and objects that are in it. As such, they could act in a much more self-aware and intelligent manner, adding a much-needed layer of complexity and safety.

In addition, AI could also be used to leverage the sheer quantity of data that self-driving vehicles are able to collect about the environment around them. In essence, these vehicles could be equipped with the capacity to monitor, analyze, and store data from their surroundings and then use those data to make smarter decisions, from reducing reaction times to improve the safety of the vehicle system to optimizing routes and thus reducing travel times for passengers.

Finally, AI could enable a much higher degree of automation. By automating otherwise manual processes, like lane-switching and navigation, it’s likely that AI could significantly reduce the amount of human input required in order to operate a self-driving vehicle.

Conclusion

It’s clear that AI has the potential to bring significant changes and advancements to the autonomous vehicles of the future. The technology promises to bring greater safety, smarter decision-making, and a greater degree of automation that could drastically improve transportation infrastructure around the world. 

However, it’s important to remember that AI is still far from perfect and still has plenty of limitations. As such, it’s crucial to understand both the potential of the technology and its current limitations in order to get an accurate idea of where autonomous driving is heading in the future. 

Regardless, the role of AI in the future of autonomous vehicles is likely to be both significant and transformative, and one that should definitely be monitored and explored with curiosity, excitement, and no small degree of awe.