Nightmare for Elon Musk

author: FutureCar Staff    

In 2021, Missy Cummings, an engineer and professor at Duke University, conducted research on the safety of self-driving cars. She issued warnings about Tesla's driver-assistance technology, stating that the cars had "variable and often unsafe behaviors" that required more testing before being allowed to operate without human control. Cummings' research led to her appointment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help regulate robot cars.

Tesla fans reacted strongly to Cummings' warnings, with Elon Musk himself joining the conversation on Twitter. Musk claimed that Cummings had a biased track record against Tesla. In response, his supporters attacked Cummings, making accusations, signing petitions for her removal, and even sending death threats.

However, Cummings, a former Navy fighter pilot, was not intimidated by the harassment. She posted the worst threats on LinkedIn, hired personal security, and continued to fight back. Despite facing criticism, Cummings took a new position at George Mason University and expanded her research to include all self-driving vehicles. In a controversial paper, she concluded that robot taxis were four to eight times more likely to crash than human-driven cars, and they caused other issues such as traffic jams and blocking emergency vehicles.

Cummings faced backlash for her critiques, particularly from men in Silicon Valley who accused her of being too harsh. She believes that the "hypermasculine culture" in the tech industry often overlooks safety risks. Cummings has firsthand experience with the dangers of machines and automation from her time as a Navy pilot, where she witnessed accidents and experienced sexual harassment.

While companies like Waymo and Cruise argue against Cummings' claims and present their own data, she remains skeptical. Cummings believes that regulatory agencies should prioritize consumer safety and keep robot cars off the road until there is clear evidence of their safety. She suggests that companies appoint a chief AI pilot who takes responsibility for the technology's safety, similar to the aviation industry.

Cummings is a tenured professor who is dedicated to saving lives through her research. She is not afraid to challenge and criticize companies like Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise, advocating for stricter regulations in the tech industry. Despite facing backlash, she continues to fight for the safety of self-driving cars.

FutureCar Staff