Autonomous technologies: An uncertain and evolving risk landscape

Propelled by massive investments and impressive technological advances, autonomous vehicles are quickly becoming more numerous and capable, and appear in a wider variety of settings.

Today, mobile autonomy applications include semi-autonomous to fully self-driving cars, taxis, buses and trucks operating on public roads; shuttle vans moving people in closed environments such as airports and campus settings; automated forklifts ferrying goods around distribution centres and manufacturing operations; mini pods delivering groceries within defined territories; autonomous farm machines planting and harvesting crops; and the list goes on.

As autonomous vehicles continues to develop, accidents are projected to decline markedly. However, the risk management issues and implications for companies in this ecosystem are still coming into focus.

This article highlights the risk and liability issues related to autonomous technologies.