The U.S. Commerce Department is set to propose a ban on Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on American roads. This proposal, expected to be announced on Monday, marks a substantial escalation in the ongoing restrictions on Chinese technology and automotive components in the United States.

The proposed regulation aims to prohibit the import and sale of vehicles from China that contain key communications or automated driving system software or hardware. This decision comes in response to mounting apprehensions about the potential collection of sensitive data on U.S. drivers and infrastructure by Chinese companies, as well as the possibility of foreign manipulation of internet-connected vehicles and navigation systems.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo previously highlighted the gravity of these risks, stating, "You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled." This sentiment echoes the broader concerns within the Biden administration regarding the implications of Chinese technology in critical U.S. infrastructure.

The proposed ban is part of a wider strategy to safeguard U.S. national security interests in the rapidly evolving automotive sector. President Joe Biden had ordered an investigation in February to assess whether Chinese vehicle imports pose national security risks, particularly concerning connected-car technology. "China's policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security," Biden warned. "I'm not going to let that happen on my watch."

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Commerce Department plans to allow a 30-day public comment period before finalising the rules. The prohibitions on software are expected to take effect in the 2027 model year, while the hardware ban would be implemented in January 2029 or the 2030 model year. These restrictions would encompass vehicles with certain Bluetooth, satellite, and wireless features, as well as highly autonomous vehicles capable of operating without a driver behind the wheel.

The scope of the ban extends beyond just Chinese technology, potentially including other foreign adversaries such as Russia. This comprehensive approach underscores the U.S. government's determination to secure the nation's automotive infrastructure against a range of perceived threats.

The proposed regulations have raised concerns among major automakers, including General Motors, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen, and Hyundai. A trade group representing these companies has warned that changing hardware and software would require significant time and resources, noting that their systems "undergo extensive pre-production engineering, testing, and validation processes and, in general, cannot be easily swapped with systems or components from a different supplier."

This move follows recent actions by the Biden administration to increase economic pressure on China, including the implementation of steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports. These tariffs include a 100% duty on electric vehicles and new increases on EV batteries and key minerals, further tightening restrictions on Chinese automotive products entering the U.S. market.

The proposed ban has garnered bipartisan support, with lawmakers from both parties expressing alarm about Chinese auto and tech companies collecting and handling sensitive data while testing autonomous vehicles in the United States. This consensus reflects a growing recognition of the potential risks associated with foreign technology in critical infrastructure.

While the ban would apply to all vehicles on U.S. roads, exceptions are expected for agriculture and mining vehicles. The rule aims to ensure the security of the supply chain for U.S.-connected vehicles, recognising that most modern cars are essentially "smartphones on wheels," linked to phones, navigation systems, critical infrastructure, and the companies that manufactured them. 
&nbsp;

The U.S. Commerce Department is set to propose a ban on Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on American roads. This proposal, expected to be announced on Monday, marks a substantial escalation in the ongoing restrictions on Chinese technology and automotive components in the United States.

The U.S. Commerce Department is set to propose a ban on Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on American roads. This proposal, expected to be announced on Monday, marks a substantial escalation in the ongoing restrictions on Chinese technology and automotive components in the United States. The proposed regulation aims to prohibit the import and sale of vehicles from China that contain key communications or automated driving system software or hardware. This decision comes in response to mounting apprehensions about the potential collection of sensitive data on U.S. drivers and infrastructure by Chinese companies, as well as the possibility of foreign manipulation of internet-connected vehicles and navigation systems. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo previously highlighted the gravity of these risks, stating, "You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled." This sentiment echoes the broader concerns within the Biden administration regarding the implications of Chinese technology in critical U.S. infrastructure. The proposed ban is part of a wider strategy to safeguard U.S. national security interests in the rapidly evolving automotive sector. President Joe Biden had ordered an investigation in February to assess whether Chinese vehicle imports pose national security risks, particularly concerning connected-car technology. "China's policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security," Biden warned. "I'm not going to let that happen on my watch." According to sources familiar with the matter, the Commerce Department plans to allow a 30-day public comment period before finalising the rules. The prohibitions on software are expected to take effect in the 2027 model year, while the hardware ban would be implemented in January 2029 or the 2030 model year. These restrictions would encompass vehicles with certain Bluetooth, satellite, and wireless features, as well as highly autonomous vehicles capable of operating without a driver behind the wheel. The scope of the ban extends beyond just Chinese technology, potentially including other foreign adversaries such as Russia. This comprehensive approach underscores the U.S. government's determination to secure the nation's automotive infrastructure against a range of perceived threats. The proposed regulations have raised concerns among major automakers, including General Motors, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen, and Hyundai. A trade group representing these companies has warned that changing hardware and software would require significant time and resources, noting that their systems "undergo extensive pre-production engineering, testing, and validation processes and, in general, cannot be easily swapped with systems or components from a different supplier." This move follows recent actions by the Biden administration to increase economic pressure on China, including the implementation of steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports. These tariffs include a 100% duty on electric vehicles and new increases on EV batteries and key minerals, further tightening restrictions on Chinese automotive products entering the U.S. market. The proposed ban has garnered bipartisan support, with lawmakers from both parties expressing alarm about Chinese auto and tech companies collecting and handling sensitive data while testing autonomous vehicles in the United States. This consensus reflects a growing recognition of the potential risks associated with foreign technology in critical infrastructure. While the ban would apply to all vehicles on U.S. roads, exceptions are expected for agriculture and mining vehicles. The rule aims to ensure the security of the supply chain for U.S.-connected vehicles, recognising that most modern cars are essentially "smartphones on wheels," linked to phones, navigation systems, critical infrastructure, and the companies that manufactured them.

US proposes ban on Chinese tech in connected vehicles

During his recent visit to China, Tesla CEO Elon Musk proposed testing the company's advanced driver-assistance package in the country by deploying it in robotaxis, state-backed China Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday. Chinese officials welcomed the robotaxi tests in the country and hoped it would "set a good example", the newspaper quoted the sources as saying.

However, the authorities in China did not immediately approve the widespread use of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) functions. Before the complete rollout of its FSD functions, Tesla still needs to get approval to collect and transfer data overseas to train Tesla cars for driver-assistance features. The newspaper added that this issue wasn't discussed in detail during Musk's visit.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-unveils-volvo-electric-trucks-for-port-operations-in-southern-california-719184">Amazon unveils Volvo electric trucks for port operations in Southern California</a>

A person briefed on the matter told Reuters that Tesla is seeking to launch the robotaxi tests in Shanghai, where the company's largest factory globally is located.

Musk's trip to Beijing last month was to discuss the rollout of FSD in the country and whether Tesla could secure government approvals to transfer data overseas that could prove pivotal in its development of autonomous vehicles.&nbsp;

What is FSD? It is the most autonomous version of Autopilot software and was rolled out by Tesla in 2020. Its features include self-parking, auto lane changes and traffic navigation. Among the wins during this trip was a key endorsement from a top Chinese auto association that said Tesla's Model 3 and Y cars were compliant with data-security regulations.&nbsp;

This development would enable local governments to allow Tesla cars into parts of China they were previously barred from, Chinese media reported. Separately, Tesla had also reached an agreement with Baidu to use the Chinese tech giant's mapping license for data collection on China's public roads, in a step towards FSD rollout in China.

However, the China Daily Newspaper said citing sources that the deal only meant that the accuracy of Baidu's maps provided to Tesla would be improved and that it had no direct relation with FSD. Also, for now, Musk has abandoned a longstanding goal for Tesla to make affordable electric cars for the masses. 
 
(with inputs from Reuters) 
&nbsp;

During his recent visit to China, Tesla CEO Elon Musk proposed testing the company's advanced driver-assistance package in the country by deploying it in robotaxis, state-backed China Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday.

During his recent visit to China, Tesla CEO Elon Musk proposed testing the company's advanced driver-assistance package in the country by deploying it in robotaxis, state-backed China Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday. Chinese officials welcomed the robotaxi tests in the country and hoped it would "set a good example", the newspaper quoted the sources as saying. However, the authorities in China did not immediately approve the widespread use of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) functions. Before the complete rollout of its FSD functions, Tesla still needs to get approval to collect and transfer data overseas to train Tesla cars for driver-assistance features. The newspaper added that this issue wasn't discussed in detail during Musk's visit. Also Read: Amazon unveils Volvo electric trucks for port operations in Southern California A person briefed on the matter told Reuters that Tesla is seeking to launch the robotaxi tests in Shanghai, where the company's largest factory globally is located. Musk's trip to Beijing last month was to discuss the rollout of FSD in the country and whether Tesla could secure government approvals to transfer data overseas that could prove pivotal in its development of autonomous vehicles. What is FSD? It is the most autonomous version of Autopilot software and was rolled out by Tesla in 2020. Its features include self-parking, auto lane changes and traffic navigation. Among the wins during this trip was a key endorsement from a top Chinese auto association that said Tesla's Model 3 and Y cars were compliant with data-security regulations. This development would enable local governments to allow Tesla cars into parts of China they were previously barred from, Chinese media reported. Separately, Tesla had also reached an agreement with Baidu to use the Chinese tech giant's mapping license for data collection on China's public roads, in a step towards FSD rollout in China. However, the China Daily Newspaper said citing sources that the deal only meant that the accuracy of Baidu's maps provided to Tesla would be improved and that it had no direct relation with FSD. Also, for now, Musk has abandoned a longstanding goal for Tesla to make affordable electric cars for the masses. (with inputs from Reuters)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk proposed to launch robotaxis in China during April visit

Major auto manufacturers Porsche and Volkswagen will incorporate automated assistance and navigation functions from Mobileye's "SuperVision" technology platform in future models.

Autonomous driving: Porsche to team up with Mobileye on automated driving software

Like every year, this year&#39;s Consumer Electronics Show was also studded with groundbreaking tech innovations, concepts and products that offered a peek into the future of technology.&nbsp;

As the four-day-long event concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, we got our hands full with shortlisting some of the most prominent and exciting ideas shared at CES 2018.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Wouldn&rsquo;t mind hitching a ride in this <a href="https://twitter.com/Toyota?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Toyota</a> concept <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CES2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CES2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/hM4G8qRMf9">pic.twitter.com/hM4G8qRMf9</a>
&mdash; CES (@CES) <a href="https://twitter.com/CES/status/951920519783186433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Ahead, we filter out for you the top takeaways from CES 2018 -- a look at concepts and tech innovations that impressed us the most.

Virtual reality is here to stay

The past year was big on augmented and virtual reality and going by this year&#39;s CES, it is suggestive that the concepts are likely to bloom further.

Tech giants had a great time unveiling trendier virtual reality headsets with better resolution, wireless adapter and what not.&nbsp;

Google, Lenovo and HTC were some of the prominent ones to showcase premium virtual reality devices this year.&nbsp;

Artificial Intelligence also emerged as a hot topic.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Shown at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CES2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CES2018</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LGUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LGUS</a>&rsquo;s OLED has gotten an AI upgrade that makes images look even better <a href="https://t.co/YI5qvgGiHl">https://t.co/YI5qvgGiHl</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Fkx9V9c5W">pic.twitter.com/5Fkx9V9c5W</a>
&mdash; CES (@CES) <a href="https://twitter.com/CES/status/951959516937113600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Go wireless!

Wireless charging is something that most of us dreamt of and prayed for our favourite tech giants to turn it into reality.

CES 2018, to some extent, suggested 2018 as the year of wireless charging; wireless devices rather.&nbsp;

Now cables and wires will not limit your mobility and not just charging, but a host of technology-led functions and tasks will get more and more detached from cables and wires.&nbsp;

Companies like Belkin are resolved to offer a range of wireless charging pads to consumers this year.&nbsp;

iOttie and PowerMat are other prominent players in the category.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
It&#39;s the last day of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CES2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CES2018</a>! If you&#39;re here in person, be sure to stop by Booth 30750 to view our latest innovations in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WirelessCharging?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WirelessCharging</a> and more. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeopleInspiredProducts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeopleInspiredProducts</a> <a href="https://t.co/HO0WhIlsOl">pic.twitter.com/HO0WhIlsOl</a>
&mdash; Belkin International (@belkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/belkin/status/951877729674301440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Welcome 5G

Remember the good old days of 2G and how imagining a world connected with high-speed 4G internet was next to unimaginable? Well, CES 2018 gave us a nudge in a direction that looked exciting and promising -- 5G may soon be a thing of our world.&nbsp;

Touted to be at least 50 times faster than 4G connectivity, 5G internet is likely to storm into our world by 2020. Yay!

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Speed through the 5G SuperHighway from <a href="https://twitter.com/intel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@intel</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CES2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CES2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/5S6mnrPKT2">pic.twitter.com/5S6mnrPKT2</a>
&mdash; CES (@CES) <a href="https://twitter.com/CES/status/951508803425419264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Autonomous vehicles

Last month <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/lg-electronics-joins-hands-with-here-technologies-self-driving-cars-27857">LG joined hands with HERE Technologies</a> to shape its autonomous vehicle category. Google made headlines for recasting its self-driving vehicle project as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/meet-waymo-googles-new-company-for-driverless-cars-10133">Waymo</a>.&nbsp;

Bringing autonomous vehicle closer to consumers was never really an uncharted territory or the one to be monopolised.

CES 2018 saw Toyota&#39;s President, Akio Toyoda, announce a brand new, autonomous vehicle equipped with a bevy of business apps.&nbsp;

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Soon you&rsquo;ll be able to drift without a driver. After you&rsquo;re done burning rubber at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CES2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CES2018</a>, check out our autonomous <a href="https://twitter.com/BMW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BMW</a> vehicle at the Intel booth. <a href="https://t.co/coRX7kvDag">pic.twitter.com/coRX7kvDag</a>
&mdash; Intel (@intel) <a href="https://twitter.com/intel/status/951913072704208896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Nvidia&#39;s CEO Jensen Huang spoke extensively at the event on the growth of autonomous vehicles.

He stated that almost all cars in the future are likely to be autonomous. Nvidia also announced partnerships with Uber and Volkswagen.

Voice assistance, everywhere

There&#39;s no denying that this year&#39;s CES was dominated by Google and Apple.

Google had previously shared data on the boom in voice searches and the emerging popularity of voice-enabled devices (mostly powered by Google Voice Assistant).&nbsp;

CES 2018 subtlely suggested the possibility of a future where our routines and everyday tasks will rest chiefly on voice-commands.&nbsp;

At CES 2018, Google unveiled a range of devices integrated with Google Assistant along with Assistant-enabled tech accessories, televisions and even cars. &nbsp;

As the four-day-long event concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, we got our hands full with shortlisting some of the most prominent ideas of the event

Like every year, this year's Consumer Electronics Show was also studded with groundbreaking tech innovations, concepts and products that offered a peek into the future of technology. As the four-day-long event concluded in Las Vegas on Friday, we got our hands full with shortlisting some of the most prominent and exciting ideas shared at CES 2018. Wouldn’t mind hitching a ride in this @Toyota concept #CES2018 pic.twitter.com/hM4G8qRMf9 — CES (@CES) January 12, 2018 × Ahead, we filter out for you the top takeaways from CES 2018 -- a look at concepts and tech innovations that impressed us the most. Virtual reality is here to stay The past year was big on augmented and virtual reality and going by this year's CES, it is suggestive that the concepts are likely to bloom further. Tech giants had a great time unveiling trendier virtual reality headsets with better resolution, wireless adapter and what not. Google, Lenovo and HTC were some of the prominent ones to showcase premium virtual reality devices this year. Artificial Intelligence also emerged as a hot topic. Shown at #CES2018, @LGUS’s OLED has gotten an AI upgrade that makes images look even better https://t.co/YI5qvgGiHl pic.twitter.com/5Fkx9V9c5W — CES (@CES) January 12, 2018 × Go wireless! Wireless charging is something that most of us dreamt of and prayed for our favourite tech giants to turn it into reality. CES 2018, to some extent, suggested 2018 as the year of wireless charging; wireless devices rather. Now cables and wires will not limit your mobility and not just charging, but a host of technology-led functions and tasks will get more and more detached from cables and wires. Companies like Belkin are resolved to offer a range of wireless charging pads to consumers this year. iOttie and PowerMat are other prominent players in the category. It's the last day of #CES2018! If you're here in person, be sure to stop by Booth 30750 to view our latest innovations in #WirelessCharging and more. #PeopleInspiredProducts pic.twitter.com/HO0WhIlsOl — Belkin International (@belkin) January 12, 2018 × Welcome 5G Remember the good old days of 2G and how imagining a world connected with high-speed 4G internet was next to unimaginable? Well, CES 2018 gave us a nudge in a direction that looked exciting and promising -- 5G may soon be a thing of our world. Touted to be at least 50 times faster than 4G connectivity, 5G internet is likely to storm into our world by 2020. Yay! Speed through the 5G SuperHighway from @intel at #CES2018 pic.twitter.com/5S6mnrPKT2 — CES (@CES) January 11, 2018 × Autonomous vehicles Last month LG joined hands with HERE Technologies to shape its autonomous vehicle category. Google made headlines for recasting its self-driving vehicle project as Waymo. Bringing autonomous vehicle closer to consumers was never really an uncharted territory or the one to be monopolised. CES 2018 saw Toyota's President, Akio Toyoda, announce a brand new, autonomous vehicle equipped with a bevy of business apps. Soon you’ll be able to drift without a driver. After you’re done burning rubber at #CES2018, check out our autonomous @BMW vehicle at the Intel booth. pic.twitter.com/coRX7kvDag — Intel (@intel) January 12, 2018 × Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang spoke extensively at the event on the growth of autonomous vehicles. He stated that almost all cars in the future are likely to be autonomous. Nvidia also announced partnerships with Uber and Volkswagen. Voice assistance, everywhere There's no denying that this year's CES was dominated by Google and Apple. Google had previously shared data on the boom in voice searches and the emerging popularity of voice-enabled devices (mostly powered by Google Voice Assistant). CES 2018 subtlely suggested the possibility of a future where our routines and everyday tasks will rest chiefly on voice-commands. At CES 2018, Google unveiled a range of devices integrated with Google Assistant along with Assistant-enabled tech accessories, televisions and even cars.

CES 2018: Wireless charging, autonomous vehicles, virtual reality and other top takeaways

LG Electronics Wednesday announced signing an agreement with navigational solution provider HERE Technologies.

The collaboration would facilitate research and innovative solutions in the field of self-driving vehicles.

HERE technologies is known to provide navigational solutions to close to 100 million automobiles across the world.&nbsp;

HERE Technologies and LG Electronics now dream of developing &quot;connected cars&quot;, noted a Yonhap news report.

HERE Technologies will facilitate devising better and improved communication solutions for autonomous vehicles with the help of its sophisticated mapping technology.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
LG Electronics claims to be a global player with respect to providing communications technologies solutions to automobiles.

The company reported an operating loss of nearly $26.9 million in the third quarter under its vehicle components division.

LG Electronics has been investing aggressively into the segment. 
&nbsp;

HERE technologies is known to provide navigational solutions to close to 100 million automobiles across the world

LG Electronics Wednesday announced signing an agreement with navigational solution provider HERE Technologies. The collaboration would facilitate research and innovative solutions in the field of self-driving vehicles. HERE technologies is known to provide navigational solutions to close to 100 million automobiles across the world. HERE Technologies and LG Electronics now dream of developing "connected cars", noted a Yonhap news report. HERE Technologies will facilitate devising better and improved communication solutions for autonomous vehicles with the help of its sophisticated mapping technology. LG Electronics claims to be a global player with respect to providing communications technologies solutions to automobiles. The company reported an operating loss of nearly $26.9 million in the third quarter under its vehicle components division. LG Electronics has been investing aggressively into the segment.

LG Electronics joins hands with HERE Technologies for self-driving cars

As self-driving cars come closer to being common on American roads, much of the rhetoric promoting them has to do with safety. About 40,000 people die on U.S. roads every year, and driver errors are linked to more than 90 per cent of crashes. But many of the biggest advocates of autonomous vehicles aren&rsquo;t car companies looking to improve the safety of their existing products. Huge backing for self-driving technologies is coming from Silicon Valley giants like Google and Apple.

Those of us who have studied the relationship between technology and society tend to look more carefully at the motivations behind any technological push. In this case, it&rsquo;s clear that in addition to addressing safety concerns, Silicon Valley firms have a strong incentive to create a new venue for increasing the use of their digital devices. Every minute people spend on their mobile phones provides data &ndash; and often money &ndash; to tech companies.

At present, digital devices and driving are in conflict: There are serious, often fatal, consequences when drivers use smartphones to talk or to text. Regulators and safety advocates look to resolve that conflict by banning phone use while driving &ndash; as has happened in virtually every state. But the tech companies are taking a different approach. The obvious answer for Silicon Valley is creating an automobile in which continuous cellphone use no longer poses a threat to anyone.

Not a new idea

The idea of a car so capable a driver is not needed isn&rsquo;t new. As far back as the 1950s, the Saturday Evening Post ran an illustration imagining a family playing a board game (in a convertible!) as the car conducts itself down the road. When self-driving cars actually take to the streets in large numbers, today&rsquo;s families likely won&rsquo;t be playing Scrabble &ndash; though Words With Friends and other mobile games are a near certainty. Every passenger is likely to be using a mobile device.

In recent years, the amount of time adults spend on their mobile devices (beyond actual phone calls) has grown rapidly. At the moment, it&rsquo;s around four hours a day for the average adult in the U.S. However, that rapid growth is likely to slow down as people run out of time that&rsquo;s available for them to use their devices.

Unless, of course, there&rsquo;s a new block of time that suddenly opens up. The average American now spends about 48 minutes in a car every day, a sizable opportunity for increased cellphone use.

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Chris Urmson, former director of Google&rsquo;s self-driving car project, made this interest clear in a 2016 talk, saying that autonomous vehicles offer the &ldquo;exciting&rdquo; possibility of creating &ldquo;another room for you&rdquo; where, among other activities, you can watch videos. The investment analysts at Morgan Stanley have talked about autonomous cars becoming a &ldquo;fourth screen&rdquo; in Americans&rsquo; lives (in addition to the home TV, personal computer and mobile phones or tablets).

Perhaps the most explicit declaration of this interest came from Jia Yueting, co-founder of the budding Chinese automaker LeEco, when he said, &ldquo;We see the car in the future as an extension of the internet, another entry point for us to sell web-based content and services.&rdquo;

So as the public conversation around autonomous cars highlights the safety advantages, don&rsquo;t forget the tech industry&rsquo;s powerful desire for more profits, which goes well beyond simply saving us from ourselves.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-silicon-valley-wants-you-to-text-and-drive-87972" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Image Credit:&nbsp;Shutterstock

Why do tech companies care so much about self-driving cars? If drivers no longer need to pay attention to the road, they can use their mobile devices even more

As self-driving cars come closer to being common on American roads, much of the rhetoric promoting them has to do with safety. About 40,000 people die on U.S. roads every year, and driver errors are linked to more than 90 per cent of crashes. But many of the biggest advocates of autonomous vehicles aren’t car companies looking to improve the safety of their existing products. Huge backing for self-driving technologies is coming from Silicon Valley giants like Google and Apple. Those of us who have studied the relationship between technology and society tend to look more carefully at the motivations behind any technological push. In this case, it’s clear that in addition to addressing safety concerns, Silicon Valley firms have a strong incentive to create a new venue for increasing the use of their digital devices. Every minute people spend on their mobile phones provides data – and often money – to tech companies. At present, digital devices and driving are in conflict: There are serious, often fatal, consequences when drivers use smartphones to talk or to text. Regulators and safety advocates look to resolve that conflict by banning phone use while driving – as has happened in virtually every state. But the tech companies are taking a different approach. The obvious answer for Silicon Valley is creating an automobile in which continuous cellphone use no longer poses a threat to anyone. Not a new idea The idea of a car so capable a driver is not needed isn’t new. As far back as the 1950s, the Saturday Evening Post ran an illustration imagining a family playing a board game (in a convertible!) as the car conducts itself down the road. When self-driving cars actually take to the streets in large numbers, today’s families likely won’t be playing Scrabble – though Words With Friends and other mobile games are a near certainty. Every passenger is likely to be using a mobile device. In recent years, the amount of time adults spend on their mobile devices (beyond actual phone calls) has grown rapidly. At the moment, it’s around four hours a day for the average adult in the U.S. However, that rapid growth is likely to slow down as people run out of time that’s available for them to use their devices. Unless, of course, there’s a new block of time that suddenly opens up. The average American now spends about 48 minutes in a car every day, a sizable opportunity for increased cellphone use. × Chris Urmson, former director of Google’s self-driving car project, made this interest clear in a 2016 talk, saying that autonomous vehicles offer the “exciting” possibility of creating “another room for you” where, among other activities, you can watch videos. The investment analysts at Morgan Stanley have talked about autonomous cars becoming a “fourth screen” in Americans’ lives (in addition to the home TV, personal computer and mobile phones or tablets). Perhaps the most explicit declaration of this interest came from Jia Yueting, co-founder of the budding Chinese automaker LeEco, when he said, “We see the car in the future as an extension of the internet, another entry point for us to sell web-based content and services.” So as the public conversation around autonomous cars highlights the safety advantages, don’t forget the tech industry’s powerful desire for more profits, which goes well beyond simply saving us from ourselves. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity). Image Credit: Shutterstock

Opinion: Why Google & Apple want you to text and drive

Would you buy a car that might risk your life to save a pedestrian? 
 
That&#39;s the question researchers are mulling in a recent study about driverless cars. 
 
When it comes to autonomous cars, people generally approve of cars programmed to sacrifice their passengers to save others, but these same people are not enthusiastic about riding in such &quot;utilitarian&quot; vehicles themselves, the survey revealed. 
 
This inconsistency, which illustrates an inherent social tension between wanting the good of the individual and that of the public, persisted across a wide range of survey scenarios, revealing just how difficult it will be to make underlying programming decisions for autonomous cars - something that should be done well before these cars become a global commodity, the study`s authors note. 
 
Autonomous vehicles, or AVs, have the potential to benefit the world by eliminating up to 90 per cent of traffic accidents, but not all crashes will be avoided and some crash scenarios will require AVs to make difficult ethical decisions. 
 
To begin to inform a collective discussion about the way AVs should make such decisions, Jean-Fran?ois Bonnefon and colleagues conducted six online surveys of US residents between June and November 2015, asking participants questions about how they would want their AVs to behave. 
 
The scenarios involved in the survey varied in the number of pedestrian and passenger lives that could be saved, among other factors.Overall, participants said that AVs should be programmed to be utilitarian, but the same people also said they would prefer to buy cars that protected them and their passengers, especially if family members were involved.This suggests that if both self-protective and utilitarian AVs were allowed on the market, few people would be willing to ride in the latter, the authors say, even though they would prefer others to do so. 
 
Bonnefon et al. note that regulation may be necessary, but, based on their survey results (which reveal that regulation could substantially delay AV adoption), they say it could also be counterproductive. 
 
In a related Perspective, Joshua D. Greene highlights additional challenges around programming driverless cars, including how manufacturers of utilitarian vehicles will be criticized for their willingness to kill their own passengers, while manufacturers of self-protective cars &quot;will be criticized for devaluing the lives of others.&quot; 
 
Determining just how to build ethical autonomous machines &quot;is one of the thorniest challenges in artificial intelligence today,&quot; Bonnefon and colleagues concluded. However, their data-driven approach highlights the way the field of experimental ethics can provide key insights in this space as more and more autonomous cars hit the road. The study appears in the journal Science. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp; 
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Autonomous vehicles have the potential eliminate up to 90% of traffic accidents, but not all crases will be avoided

Would you buy a car that might risk your life to save a pedestrian? That's the question researchers are mulling in a recent study about driverless cars. When it comes to autonomous cars, people generally approve of cars programmed to sacrifice their passengers to save others, but these same people are not enthusiastic about riding in such "utilitarian" vehicles themselves, the survey revealed. This inconsistency, which illustrates an inherent social tension between wanting the good of the individual and that of the public, persisted across a wide range of survey scenarios, revealing just how difficult it will be to make underlying programming decisions for autonomous cars - something that should be done well before these cars become a global commodity, the study`s authors note. Autonomous vehicles, or AVs, have the potential to benefit the world by eliminating up to 90 per cent of traffic accidents, but not all crashes will be avoided and some crash scenarios will require AVs to make difficult ethical decisions. To begin to inform a collective discussion about the way AVs should make such decisions, Jean-Fran?ois Bonnefon and colleagues conducted six online surveys of US residents between June and November 2015, asking participants questions about how they would want their AVs to behave. The scenarios involved in the survey varied in the number of pedestrian and passenger lives that could be saved, among other factors.Overall, participants said that AVs should be programmed to be utilitarian, but the same people also said they would prefer to buy cars that protected them and their passengers, especially if family members were involved.This suggests that if both self-protective and utilitarian AVs were allowed on the market, few people would be willing to ride in the latter, the authors say, even though they would prefer others to do so. Bonnefon et al. note that regulation may be necessary, but, based on their survey results (which reveal that regulation could substantially delay AV adoption), they say it could also be counterproductive. In a related Perspective, Joshua D. Greene highlights additional challenges around programming driverless cars, including how manufacturers of utilitarian vehicles will be criticized for their willingness to kill their own passengers, while manufacturers of self-protective cars "will be criticized for devaluing the lives of others." Determining just how to build ethical autonomous machines "is one of the thorniest challenges in artificial intelligence today," Bonnefon and colleagues concluded. However, their data-driven approach highlights the way the field of experimental ethics can provide key insights in this space as more and more autonomous cars hit the road. The study appears in the journal Science. (ANI)

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