While seeing no one behind the steering wheel is a scary feeling in a moving car, the ride in this self-driving vehicle was quite smooth.—Photo by the writer RIDING in a car with no one behind the wheel must sound like a nightmarish vision. But this is no bad dream, rather a smooth cruise along the roads of Beijing with no one but the vehicle itself driving me to my destination. Without a driver, the car stopped at traffic signals and waited for pedestrians at zebra crossings, too. It slowed down in traffic and picked up speed in the fast lane.

This incident, though seemingly insignificant, left a lasting impression on me. It highlighted the importance of being present in the moment and not letting distractions take over. The car’s actions, though seemingly simple, were a powerful reminder of the power of mindfulness.

ai’s autonomous driving technology in Toyota’s existing vehicle fleet. This strategic partnership signifies a significant step forward in the autonomous driving industry, demonstrating the potential for collaboration between established automotive giants and emerging players. The company’s mission is to make autonomous driving a reality for everyone. This mission is reflected in their commitment to developing safe, reliable, and affordable autonomous driving solutions.

And it was just this year in May that Pony.ai also became the first to receive a permit to provide autonomous truck ‘platoon’ formation testing in Beijing to become the only company in China to have obtained such permits in two cities — Beijing and Guangzhou. Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2024