But what Google is working on may instead result in the automotive equivalent of the Apple Newton, what one Web commenter called a "timid, skittish robot car whose inferior level of intelligence becomes a daily annoyance." To be able to handle the everyday stresses and strains of the real driving world, the Google car will require a computer with a level of intelligence that machines won't have for many years, if ever.
It's easy to understand the excitement about the Google car. The first two prototypes were heavily modified Prius and Lexus models; the most recent, a dome-shaped two-seater with a top speed of 25 mph, is entirely computer-controlled, lacking even a steering wheel. (Because California allows the testing of a robotic car only if a human is on board to assume control in an emergency, the company can't test the latest prototype on public roads.)
By most accounts, a demo ride in any of the Google cars is an astonishing thrill. It’s even more impressive when you recall that in a much-publicized test only a decade ago, robotic vehicles couldn’t finish even eight miles of a 150-mile course. Surely it’s still possible, despite the current challenges, that Google’s legion of genius Ph.D.s could make quick work of any remaining obstacles. Right?