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CloudWatcher

(2,113 posts)

4. But if it is the AV's fault?

Reply to Polybius (Reply #3)

Fri Jul 25, 2025, 09:15 PM

Jul 25

Say the AV gets a random bit-flip (static discharge or a lightning strike or a gamma ray), and it drives into a crowd of people at full speed and kills several.

Do we send the car to jail for manslaughter? Or every EE and software engineer that worked on the design? Or the sales people that assured us that it's safer than human drivers? Or nobody, because the fine-print in some contract says that failures by the AV are considered to be acts-of-god and not anyone's fault?

I don't think I'm a Luddite (I have a MS in Computer Science), but I seriously hate the idea of AV's on the open road.

The high tech mantra of 'move fast and break things' has some negative implications here.

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Boston Teamsters to Waymo: Hit the Brakes [View all] Omaha Steve Jul 25 OP

Who goes to jail? CloudWatcher Jul 25 #1

The right case hasn't occurred yet. Igel Jul 25 #2

Depends who's fault it was Polybius Jul 25 #3

But if it is the AV's fault? CloudWatcher Jul 25 #4

It would have to be proven that it was programed with extreme carelessness and incompetence Polybius Jul 25 #5