WHY IT MATTERS: Digital Transformation

WHY IT MATTERS: this is a very geeky interview with Elon Musk on autopilot and the future of self-driving cars. Thoughtful, structured and informative it brings to light a very strong point: the value of a car lies in its capacity to self drive and every Tesla has this feature already builtin. Basically it means that cars will soon cross the threshold of autonomy, opening a whole new era for personal transportation. But more importantly I believe for businesses that rely on delivery logistics: ecommerce of course but also groceries, medical supplies, etc.

WHY IT MATTERS: we hear too much about AI with many experts fighting hard to make the difference between AI, machine learning and deep learning. My summary is that AI is a long way in the future but that machine learning impacts will be well within my lifetime - 10 to 25 years from now. This is what I prepare my customers for in my strategic plans.

WHY IT MATTERS: self-driving cars are possible but some time in the future. This is because they need to be completely autonomous in all situations, something very difficult with the current state of AI technology. However, cars equipped with sensors and cameras and telecommunication can allow remote operators to drive them - they do it for drones already and for heavy machinery in mines. This article explains how a new startup does it. Interesting to grasp just how complex the whole thing is. Moreover, self-driving vehicles appear to be doing the same to get their self-driving cars out of complex situations the AI cannot deal with. 

WHY IT MATTERS: a glimpse behind the hardware that is required to power a self-driving car. Of course it comes from the folks that initially worked for an online school (Udemy) that was started by Google self-driving genius Thurun.

WHY IT MATTERS: it makes perfect sense when you think about it: deploy self-driving cars on private property instead of on the open road. Here, the use case is a retirement community. Next I assume it may be on a vacation resort (think self-driving golf carts) or a remote wilderness fishing property (more self driving all-terrain trucks). And why are businesses with large properties not deploying self-driving vehicles? Oops not true they are: Codelco has 4 fully autonomous copper mines in Chile!. Take a few minutes to watch he Voyage experiment video: https://news.voyage.auto/voyages-first-self-driving-car-deployment-29c7688c6a1 or more on mining automation http://sco.lt/4qCRLV 

1- First, look at the video at the end of the article.

2- Then, read the article to understand what Tesla is doing

3- Then, listen to this other video to understand that self-driving will be part of every new Tesla vehicle but will operate in "shadow mode".

https://www.wired.com/video/2016/10/nasa-s-pumpkin-carving-contest/ 

New Teslas will be self-driving and comparing their driving to what the human drivers did (and presumably learning from them). They will collect huge amounts of data, which will demonstrate that self-driving is safer than human driving.

4- Then, dive into this more complete description of the technology. 

https://www.wired.com/2016/10/teslas-self-driving-car-plan-seems-insane-just-might-work/ 

5- Then, look into this video of a self-driving delivery 18-wheeler that drove 200 miles without human intervention.

https://www.wired.com/2016/10/ubers-self-driving-truck-makes-first-delivery-50000-beers/

6- Realize this is not fiction but 2016 reality.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Self driving must find its way into every major corporation strategic plan. It will impact how retailers receive their products from factories and distribution centers. It will make eCommerce easier with lower cost delivery (which still accounts for 15 to 25% of the online total) and will enable same-day delivery. It will transform travel between large cities, and school bus for our kids. It will change the way ships carry their loads.

Self-driving will create a shockwave in human resources department and unions, which will fear the replacement of human drivers by machines. It will require appropriate communication, retraining, and investments to ensure a smooth transition into the new reality.

Don't worry this will not affect your 2017 bottom line. It won't even affect 2020's bottom line. So if you manage with a short term vision, life is good, stay the course, and forget everything I just said.

Others, call me!