IN A FEW weeks, Waymo will launch America’s first commercial robotaxi service. GM and Ford are both developing competing fleets. The grand vision? Fewer road fatalities, less congestion, and cleaner air, as human drivers cede control of their cars to automation. Vehicle ownership—pricey and inefficient—will ultimately drop, and Americans will opt instead for cheaper, autonomous taxis. A more productive continent will rise, the thinking goes, one where citizens are freed from the burdens of driving and can engage in other, more rewarding pursuits.
