About this episode
The episode explores the evolution and future of self-driving cars, comparing it to the historical impact of the first automobiles.
Self-driving cars, once a thing of science fiction, have become a reality in a handful of cities across the country. As our vehicles gain autonomy, they may provoke a profound shift not unlike the introduction of the first car in the late1800s and raise the question of whether the human driver will soon be obsolete. For a glimpse into the future of self-driving cars, we take a spin through the history of the automobile, from the Model T to the driverless taxi-cab. Along the way, we explore the rise of American manufacturing and the unmistakable but unexpected way in which we have bonded to our four-wheeled companions. Guests: Witold Rybczynski – Professor emeritus of architecture and design at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book, The Driving Machine: A Design History of the Car Timothy B Lee – Technology journalist and writer of the newsletter, Understanding AI Descripción en español Originally aired April 7, 2025 Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon…
People in this episode
Host: Big Picture Science
Guests: Witold Rybczynski, Timothy B Lee
Topics covered
- self-driving cars
- automobile history
- American manufacturing
- technology
- autonomy
Keywords
- self-driving cars
- autonomous vehicles
- automobile history
- Model T
- driverless taxi
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Pennsylvania
Books & works: The Driving Machine: A Design History of the Car
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