AI “What is new with Driverless cars”

AI “What is new with Driverless cars”

In 2025 my use of AI at work and at home has greatly increased and improved over the year.

I am still amazed how quickly it can do things. I recently asked it to plan a 21 day trip to Thailand /Cambodia and Vietnam and in less than a minute I had a full itinerary of planes/trains and automobiles. One can dream!!.

They always say to check the information that it produces as it may be wrong.

I decided to ask it “What is new with Driverless cars?”.

The below is what it told me and in a year’s time it will be good to reflect on whether it was correct or not.

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Driverless cars are no longer just futuristic concepts — by 2026, you’ll likely see autonomous taxis operating in UK cities, with full-scale adoption by 2027. Advances in AI are making them smarter, cheaper, and more adaptable, while global trials prove the technology is edging closer to everyday use.

Key Updates in Driverless Cars (2025)

  • UK Legislation – Automated Vehicles Act (2024):
    • Provides the legal framework for autonomous vehicles.
    • Defines liability: operators (not passengers) are responsible in fully driverless journeys.
    • Pilot schemes for driverless taxis and buses will begin in spring 2026, with wider rollout expected in late 2027.
  • Autonomous Taxi Trials:

 UK firm Wayve has demonstrated its Ford Mustang Mach-E navigating London traffic hands-free using end-to-end AI, which learns and adapts rather than relying solely on pre-programmed rules.

  • Waymo (Google’s autonomous arm) already operates in five US cities with over 10 million rides completed, and plans UK expansion.
  • Tesla continues to push its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, showing unassisted drives in London and Paris, though regulatory approval is pending.
  • City-Level Initiatives:
    • Southampton is lobbying to be part of early UK pilot schemes, aiming to attract investment and jobs by embracing autonomous transport.
    • Other UK cities are expected to follow suit as infrastructure adapts.
  • Global Expansion:

In Hong Kong, Baidu Apollo has begun trial runs of driverless cars in Kowloon City and Kwun Tong, marking the first unmanned vehicle trials in dense residential and commercial districts.

  • Trials include driverless buses and taxis, with strict time windows to minimize disruption.
  • Public Readiness:

Concerns remain around safety, accountability, and affordability. Early rides are expensive, but governments see potential for reducing transport costs long-term

It’s fascinating to see how this leap in technology could one day sit alongside classic British cars — a future where a Jaguar E-Type and a driverless EV might share the same road.

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Having been to Hong Kong it will be interesting to see if this is successful.

Let’s see next year if this all happened and what it predicts next.