> In defense of the article, which is pretty reasonable, it doesn't mention the ridiculous hijacking example you were harping on. That is quite a unique situation, technically and ethically.
It is clearly one of the implied reasons a bunch of armed men would be standing around on the road in that picture. What makes it "ridiculous," exactly?
If you're on a road with armed men with hostile intent, the fact that your autonomous car is unable to offer a solution is absolutely the least of your worries. The unique properties of the armed men on the side of the road problem are not representative of the more general problems vehicle autonomy involves. Take your pick.
Speeding past or turning around are sensible actions a human driver could take that the AI probably would not. The whole point of that example is that the appropriate response to armed guys on the road is not the same in one context as another.
It is clearly one of the implied reasons a bunch of armed men would be standing around on the road in that picture. What makes it "ridiculous," exactly?