But how is Google or any other manufacturer going to test their software updates? Are they going to test-drive their cars for tens of thousands of miles over and over again for every little update?
Here's Google talking about it: https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en...
Of course this is only one component to feeling confident about pushing out an update where lives are on the line, but it's a key component.
For example if the new update makes the car more aggressive, then other real drivers might be more careful, slow down more, etc compared to the original runs?
And that once a comfortable self-driving experience is found, Google will not want to change it much.
I'm sorry but the important point is: how are we going to agree what needs more testing, and what can be updated without testing? If we let those big companies decide about those issues, then I'm afraid we will soon see another scandal like VW, except possibly with deadly consequences.
I can already predict the reasoning of those companies: last quarter our cars were safer than average, so we can afford some failures now.
I thought programmers were on here :-)