Pony.ai CEO James Peng Discusses Safety and Future of Autonomous Mobility on Times Radio

“A large share of road accidents are caused by human error. People may be distracted, tired, nervous, under the influence, or simply fail to notice other road users. Autonomous driving is designed to address many of these risks. With 360-degree sensor coverage and constant attention to the surrounding environment, autonomous vehicles have the potential to avoid many accidents that are caused by hum”

“We already have real operational data showing that autonomous driving can be safe — and in our own operations, significantly safer than human driving. ... Human driving safety, as a whole, tends to remain relatively static, and in some cases may even decline because of distraction, mobile phone usage, and shorter attention spans. Autonomous driving systems, by contrast, continue to improve through”

“Technology has always changed the structure of employment. Many industries that once depended heavily on manual labor have become highly automated, and society has had to adjust. Autonomous driving will be part of that broader technological transition. ... New types of work are also being created, including fleet operations, remote assistance, vehicle maintenance, safety supervision, and other rol”

“Autonomous driving, and AI more broadly, will likely create significant value for society. But that value may not be distributed evenly. There is a real risk that AI could widen the gap between those who benefit from the technology and those who do not. ... This also requires policy, regulation, education, and broader social planning. The future of AI cannot be shaped by companies alone.”