They are doing testing. In the real world as we speak...
Every second these guinea pigs are on the road, the AI is improved via “deep learning”. The machines simply observe thousands of human drivers and learn how to drive collectively.
Of course they give the caveat that the system is new and you should keep your hands on the wheel (due to new rare occurances like this). Then when the driver grabs the wheel, all the cars learn how to handle that new situation.
I was given a preview of this type of software about a year ago and even back then it felt incredible.
IMO, the biggest issue now is people becoming complacent because the system seems so amazing in 99.99% of driving situations. Even if watching and holding the wheel, your mind relaxes and you become unprepared to take over for that 0.01% chance event. I felt that “complacent” feeling even on the first ride.
This guy might have logged thousands of miles without a single error and eventually got so complacent he watched movies and even fell asleep
[Starman is driving the car, and speeds across a recently turned red light, causing crashes for the other motorists]
Starman: Okay?
Jenny Hayden: Okay? Are you crazy? You almost got us killed! You said you watched me, you said you knew the rules!
Starman: I do know the rules.
Jenny Hayden: Oh, for your information pal, that was a *yellow* light back there!
Starman: I watched you very carefully. Red light stop, green light go, yellow light go very fast.