A secret weapon for self-driving car startups: Humans


FILE PHOTO: A vehicle equipped with Pony.ai's self-driving technology is parked at the company's office in Fremont, California, U.S. June 17, 2021. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino/File Photo

FREMONT, Calif. (Reuters) -Self-driving startups like Cruise and Pony.ai have begun testing their driverless cars in some parts of California in the past year, with an additional feature: Human operators.

While there is no driver behind the wheel, the passenger seat is occupied by a safety operator who "has a red button that can stop the vehicle just in case anything happens," Pony.ai CEO James Peng told Reuters.

Get 30% off with our ads free Premium Plan!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

A call for millennial complaints draws an enormous crowd
LG Energy Solution flags slowing EV demand, posts first quarterly loss in 3 years
Instagram and Facebook blocked and hid US abortion pill providers’ posts
Rivian says other automakers 'knocking on door' about tech from VW joint venture
OpenAI releases AI agent that helps book�flights, order�food for users
US$3,000 for a used iPhone? If it has TikTok, maybe.
Watching short videos may be having an effect on kids’ grades at school
The bike handlebars of the future will be smart and connected
Trump waves off criticism from Elon Musk on AI announcement
Meta seeks urgent fix to AI chatbot's confusion on name of US president

Others Also Read