tech
March 19, 2026
‘We don’t tell the car what it should do’: my ride in a self-driving taxi
Driverless ‘robotaxis’ will be accepting fares in Britain’s biggest city by the end of next year. Can they deal with London’s medieval roads, hordes of pedestrians and errant ebikers? I got in the passenger seat to find out
TL;DR
- Wayve's self-driving taxi utilizes end-to-end AI, learning from its environment rather than relying on pre-programmed rules.
- London presents significant challenges for autonomous vehicles due to its narrow roads, unpredictable pedestrians, and high volume of cyclists and roadworks.
- Robotaxis are expected to launch in London by the end of next year, with companies like Wayve, Waymo, and Baidu preparing for market entry.
- Traditional black cab drivers express skepticism, citing the human element of service and potential issues with robotaxi reliability and interaction.
- Concerns surrounding the safety and autonomy of self-driving vehicles persist, including instances of malfunction, remote human intervention, and potential vulnerability to interference.
- The future of autonomous vehicles in cities is debated, with some viewing them as a key to safer roads, while others emphasize the importance of public transport, cycling, and walking.