Imagine a future where Chicagoans get around in free, driverless cars

The inside smelled like pine air freshener. She took a quick look around. It was clean, and the chairs next to it were gray and plush. The driver and passenger seats were still there, as was the steering wheel. This was just a regular SUV turned into a self-driving car. A kind of development. Interesting. Her mother knocked on the window, and Zilu was shocked when she opened the window in response. She and her mother looked at each other for a moment and then laughed. “Wow,” her mother said with a surprised look on her face. “I know,” Zilo agreed.

“You’ll be okay?”

“I’ll just go to the lake,” Zilo said. “I’ll be fine.”

“Call me if you need me. I can come get you.”

“Please prepare for your flight,” a robotic voice announced. Her mother jumped back, as if the SUV would suddenly run her over.

“Relax, mom,” Zilo said. “Its sensors know you’re there. It won’t move until you’re at a safe distance.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” her mother said.

“You’re about to do this.”

Her mother waved as the car drove off slowly. Zilu waved again.

And then she was alone, and her life was in the hands of the SUV.

“This is so weird,” she muttered as she watched the steering wheel move on its own. This was her first time riding in a moving car alone. There was no one there, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of a presence; Something He was in control. It was as if she was being led by a ghost. “Or should I say no one,” she said to herself, laughing.

When the car stopped to head to the main road, her joy disappeared.

She believed in the science behind self-driving vehicles. The technology has been around for years, and has been researching this new taxi service for the past few months. The idea of ​​being able to order one with her phone like an Uber and not having to deal with a human who looked at her strangely, asked awkward questions, could be a serial killer, etc., was great. Most importantly, it will free her from her family. Whenever she asked someone to give her a ride, they responded with a strange mixture of pity, control, and duty. She didn’t think they even knew they did it. It always made her feel pathetic and childish, even when she was being led around by one of her younger brothers. Oh, to be free of this feeling.

However, at this moment, she wanted to scream in panic. She dug her nails into the armrests of her chair. Despite all the research and reassurances from the customer service people I spoke with, this was very different now that it was happening in real time. What if there is a mistake and I made a mistake in the calculation? What if another driver does something crazy that the SUV can’t understand or adapt to? What if there is a solar flare and the entire car dies?

“Fuck!” I shouted as the SUV turned around. “I will die!”

Then they were on the road. Zilo shouted and laughed with relief, still sweating bullets. The car drove exactly at the speed limit, which meant everyone passed it. Several people did a double take, some pointed, and two held up their phones to record videos. Zelu was too nervous to care much about this matter. They were approaching the highway.