852 karma · joined February 3, 2015
YC alum - email me your applications if you want feedback
I believe the shareholders have voted with a resounding yes. Companies are not out to make the world a better place - they are trying to maximize profits. I think we should try to find more pragmatic solutions such as improving government programs and creating non-profits to help with the homeless problem.
http://insideevs.com/expected-tesla-model-s-fails-lap-nurbur...
edit: a quick Google of forums and articles suggests the car has a problem overheating when you drive it above ~100 MPH
http://www.teslarati.com/tesla-model-s-formula-1-racing-circ...
That said, I didn't realize just how far ahead Google/Waymo is with regards to self-driving cars. If you check out the report of autonomous vehicles (HN "discussion" here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13554796) they are already operating on highways with zero problems! The data is limited, but that is promising.
http://www.iflscience.com/technology/hitchhiking-robot-manag...
I haven't thought through the economics on these systems, but there are enough startups working on it for me to think it must be a larger market than I realize. I wonder what the overhead is (how many robots you need to meet demand), how quickly they can deliver, and what other limitations they have (temperature control, weather resistance, ability to traverse stairs/elevators).
At what point do these machines become cheaper than humans? I understand that they are likely meant to be a supplement as opposed to a replacement, but until they can compete with humans there's not much of a business.