In a world where calling a ride takes just a tap on a phone, the idea of personally driving a car is quickly becoming outdated.
According to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, the future of transportation may no longer involve human drivers at all.
During a panel titled "AI and the Next Tech Revolution" at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, Khosrowshahi shared his vision of a world increasingly driven—literally—by autonomous vehicles.
AI Behind the Wheel
If you look 15 to 20 years ahead, Khosrowshahi said, I believe cars will be fully self-driving.
He emphasized that autonomous systems are already proving safer than human drivers, thanks to their ability to learn continuously and avoid distractions.
Still, he acknowledged that we’re far from large-scale implementation. The current cost of building a fully autonomous car can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. That price, he said, must fall to the tens of thousands to make the model commercially viable.
Major Hurdles Ahead
To make this vision a reality, Khosrowshahi outlined several key requirements:
-
A unified national regulatory framework
-
Infrastructure for vehicle maintenance and operations
-
Charging and reconditioning hubs
-
Significant reductions in technology and vehicle costs
The Race to Autonomy: Who Wins Doesn’t Matter
When asked about competition with companies like Tesla and Waymo (Alphabet), Khosrowshahi dismissed the notion of a single winner.
“This is a multi-trillion dollar industry,” he said. “In a world led by autonomous vehicles, ride-sharing services will likely outpace private car ownership.”
Where the Future Starts
He identified California and Texas as the most forward-thinking markets currently leading the charge toward adopting autonomous vehicle technology.
Looking Ahead
While the idea of giving up the driver’s seat may make some uneasy, Khosrowshahi sees it as inevitable.
With safety, efficiency, and AI capabilities improving daily, he believes the driverless era is closer than most think.
In his view, the question is no longer if we’ll stop driving—but when.
