Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi envisions a future where all cars will be autonomous in “20 plus years,” leading to reduced private car ownership and significantly higher safety standards for self-driving vehicles compared to human drivers. He emphasized that machines must be held to stricter safety criteria since humans are fallible, and society may eventually question whether humans should be allowed to drive on open roads at all. This perspective comes amid growing scrutiny of autonomous driving technologies, as companies like Tesla and Waymo navigate the challenges of deploying robotaxis and self-driving software while prioritizing safety.

Khosrowshahi’s comments highlight the evolving landscape of autonomous vehicles, where safety and reliability are paramount. Tesla has faced legal and safety challenges with its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features, including a $242 million damages ruling related to a fatal crash. Meanwhile, Waymo takes a cautious approach to scaling its autonomous fleet, frequently pulling back deployments to ensure safety. Uber is collaborating with Waymo to integrate fully driverless rides into its app, marking a significant step in mainstreaming autonomous transportation.