In the early 1990s, a driverless world was a mere dream, an abstract idea put together by elaborately strung-together words and creatively edited images. One could only indirectly experience a robot-driven vehicle through novels or movies. It was not until the mid-2000s when those words and pictures gained physical substance when people could finally experience what it feels like to navigate the streets without having to touch the steering wheel. Such radical change poses a number of challenges, but it is an undeniable fact that technological breakthrough offers countless opportunities for the future, which makes it something to be embraced, not pushed away.

Rapid developments in technology have enabled humans to strive for the impossible. A hot topic making headlines across the world is none other than artificial intelligence (AI). AI is being integrated into every industry, helping humans perform tasks in a way that ensures quality and saves time. Although AI has been accepted in fields that are simple and repetitive, it has raised the bar when it comes to relying on a computerized program to make split-second decisions. However, the potential of AI is far too great for it to go unnoticed, and one industry that is showing such potential is none other than the autonomous vehicles (AVs) industry.

Before taking one side, it is important to note that AVs are not yet considered mainstream, with many companies in the midst of developing prototypes. Therefore, as not many people possess or even get the chance to ride an AV, it is hard for one to weigh its pros and cons. Many are thus left with no other choice than to rely on the news, which purposefully headlines dramatic accidents that assign the blame to the vehicle, making AVs seem harmful and destructive. These headlines do not give AVs a neutral platform and make the public turn their backs before even considering what AVs hold for the future.

Truthfully, AV technology is not something one can entirely dismiss, as it is expected to influence various sectors of the world. *Lux Research*, a research and consulting service, stated that the AV market has the potential to become an 87-billion-dollar industry by 2030. The most visible benefits of AVs include reduced human effort and cost. On top of these benefits, it has been reported by *The National Law Review* that AV accidents result in less severe injuries when compared to accidents caused by human-driven cars.

Furthermore, AVs are bound to contribute to the digital world by sharing data with other devices, a concept related to *Internet of Things (IoT)*. Such connectivity allows seemingly unrelated industries to find linkage points, generating greater efficiency, which in return benefits both suppliers and consumers. A leading example of such profitable linkage is the food and the ride-hailing industry, in which cars originally used for driving customers now serve as delivery cars. With AVs, such linkage is destined to get stronger, as these smart vehicles will be able to reduce delivery time and share real-time information on their location and current level of traffic congestion.

Anything new and foreign to the world initially faces skepticism about its feasibility. However, it is only normal for new technology to have holes and errors. Mending these holes takes time, effort, and most importantly, needs acceptance. In the world today, humans and machines coexist, working through tasks together. As such, AVs are no longer something that should be dismissed, but something that must be embraced and recognized in order to build a promising future for all.