Britain's new left-wing Prime Minister wants to champion British self-driving car firms, AND protect drivers' jobs. Can he do both?
Britain's new left-wing Prime Minister wants to champion British self-driving car firms, AND protect drivers' jobs. Can he do both?
Kendall backs driverless cars as Burnham's team wavers
UK tech secretary Liz Kendall has backed driverless cars and British AI, splitting with the likely next PM Andy Burnham's team, in a Sifted podcast.
"The warning has a target. London’s streets are about to host a robotaxi race, with Alphabet’s Waymo and China’s Baidu both eyeing launches. Kendall singled out the British contender, Wayve, as a “brilliant British success story”. The startup begins piloting driverless taxis in London with Uber later this year. ……. Andy Burnham is the favourite to be Britain’s next prime minister. Last week, the Financial Times reported that his team wants to revamp the AI strategy. His advisers distrust the driverless rollout, fearing it will cost taxi and Uber drivers their jobs. The report rattled the UK tech sector."
Britain's soon-to-be new left-wing Prime Minister wants to revamp the country's AI strategy, with an emphasis on protecting jobs. I've yet to hear anyone square the circle when it comes to explaining where tens of millions of displaced human drivers will get new employment. Bravo to Mr. Burnham for at least trying…
Britain developed a social security and universal healthcare system on the back of its population's experience of mass mobilization during the world wars. Coping with the AI/Robots economic transition ahead will be just as big a change.
I would guess by 2030, "Affordability" & "Human versus AI/robot jobs" will be the two biggest political issues across the world.
UK tech secretary backs driverless cars as Burnham’s team gets cold feet