tech
Robotaxis coming to London pose a threat to traditional cabbies who memorize 25,000 streets to earn licenses
London's black cab drivers, already besieged by rideshare companies, may soon face another threat: AI-powered, autonomous taxis.
TL;DR
- London's black cab drivers may face competition from AI-powered autonomous taxis.
- Becoming a black cab driver requires passing 'The Knowledge,' a test involving memorizing 25,000 streets and thousands of landmarks, and determining shortest routes.
- Studies show that the memorization required for 'The Knowledge' can physically alter cab drivers' brains, increasing the size of their posterior hippocampi.
- The black cab industry has declined, with driver numbers falling from 25,000 to 16,000 in the last decade due to rideshare competition.
- Companies like Wayve and Waymo are testing autonomous vehicles in London, with Waymo already operating in multiple U.S. cities.
- Waymo claims its driverless cars are five times safer than human drivers in their operational areas and have driven billions of miles in simulation.
- Waymo robotaxis have experienced some incidents, including driving through an active police scene and interfering with emergency responders.
- Wayve's AI does not pre-map cities but is trained on global driving experience, allowing it to make real-time decisions in unfamiliar environments.
- Some black cab drivers are worried about the future impact of AI on their profession, while others believe human drivers will always be necessary.