Autonomous taxis still remain a distant threat, but AI could loom larger, says LTDA Chairman

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The ongoing discussion around autonomous taxis continues to capture headlines, but Paul Brennan, Chairman of the Licensed TaxiPoint Drivers’ Association (LTDA), remains sceptical about their imminent impact on the industry.

Speaking in the latest edition of TAXI newspaper, Brennan reaffirmed his stance that driverless vehicles are not about to disrupt the trade as many fear in the near future.

Brennan pointed to Tesla’s latest announcement, which revealed further delays in the company’s autonomous taxi trials. He noted that other firms have also halted testing and paused their rollout plans. “Let’s be honest,” Brennan remarked, “if Tesla can’t make it work, all the others are really going to struggle”.

However, while the threat from autonomous vehicles appears to be receding, Brennan expressed growing concern about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to erode the traditional customer base. He pointed out the rapid advances in AI technology, which have already begun to disrupt various professions.

Brennan questioned the long-term job security of those in roles typically considered secure. He cited lawyers as an example, speculating that AI with comprehensive access to legal data could eventually outperform human solicitors. This, he suggested, could lead to a broader shift in employment patterns, with many professionals at risk of being replaced by AI.

The rise of remote working, driven by the pandemic, has already shifted work habits, with many continuing to work from home for large parts of the week. Brennan hinted that those reliant on such arrangements might find themselves particularly vulnerable to AI-driven changes.

Brennan said: “Autonomous taxis are once again being spoken about in the media, and once again drivers are asking me whether I’ve changed my stance on them not hammering in the final nail in our coffin.

“No is the short answer, not least because the last update from Tesla as reported in the last issue of TAXI, is that they are once again delaying further testing of their ‘taxi’. Others have of course also stopped all autonomous vehicle testing and future rollout plans. Let’s be honest if Tesla can’t make it work, all the others are really going to struggle.”

“What I would be more (but not really) concerned about is artificial intelligence (AI) and potentially losing our core customer base to that. It’s scary how quickly and easily AI has made such advances in such a short time. How long before lawyers for instance will no longer be required? Could AI with full and easy access to the law and prior judgements be better placed to represent you? How long before AI can do the job of many professionals we see in our cabs?

“Clearly with many still partially working from home for large parts of the week doing their job from a laptop, they are probably easily replaced, so I’d be more worried if I was one of those.“