<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful AI assistant.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Can you explain to me how self driving works at first grade level?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Self-driving cars are cars that can drive by themselves without a person telling them what to do. They use special machines and computers to see and understand the road and other things around them, such as other cars, people, animals, signs, and traffic lights. They can also talk to each other and share information about where they are going and what they see.

Self-driving cars work by using many different parts that work together. Some of the most important parts are:

- **Sensors**. These are devices that help the car sense or feel things around it. They can be like eyes, ears, or noses for the car. For example, cameras can help the car see the road and the lanes. Radar can help the car measure how far away other things are. Lidar can help the car make a map of its surroundings by using lasers. Ultrasound can help the car detect objects that are very close to it.
- **Computers**. These are devices that help the car think and make decisions. They use a special kind of thinking called artificial intelligence (AI), which means they can learn from their experiences and improve over time. They can also use information from the internet or other sources to help them drive better. For example, computers can help the car plan the best route to get somewhere, or avoid traffic jams or accidents.
- **Software**. This is a set of instructions that tell the computers what to do and how to do it. Software can also control how the car moves and behaves. For example, software can tell the car when to speed up, slow down, turn, stop, or change lanes.

Self-driving cars have many benefits for people and society. They can make driving safer, easier, faster, cheaper, and more enjoyable. They can also help reduce pollution, save energy, and create new jobs and opportunities.

However, self-driving cars also have some challenges and risks. They are very complex and expensive to make and maintain. They may not work well in some situations or places, such as bad weather or roads that are not well marked. They may also make mistakes or cause accidents that could harm people or property. They may also raise ethical, legal, and social questions about who is responsible for their actions and how they should be regulated.

Self-driving cars are still being developed and tested by many companies and researchers around the world. They are not yet available for everyone to use or buy. Some cars today have some features that can help them drive themselves in some situations, but they still need a person to watch over them and take control if needed. These are called semi-autonomous cars.

Self-driving cars are an exciting technology that could change how we travel and live in the future. But they also need more research and testing before they can be fully trusted and accepted by everyone.

I hope this explanation helps you understand how self-driving cars work at a first grade level.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Thanks, but I don't think I fully understand... How can it tell what something is without having a brain?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Sure, I'd be happy to explain it! A self-driving car has a special computer inside it that helps it see the world around it. This computer uses something called "artificial intelligence" to understand what it's seeing.

Just like how you use your eyes to see things, the self-driving car has special cameras that take pictures of everything around it. The computer then looks at those pictures and tries to figure out what things are.

The computer does this by using something called "machine learning". It looks at lots of different pictures of things like cars, people, and buildings, and learns what they all look like. Then, when it sees something new, it can compare it to what it already knows and figure out what it is.

It's kind of like how you learn new things by seeing them and remembering what they look like. The self-driving car does the same thing, but with the help of a special computer.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Do you think people will eventually be comfortable with the idea that an AI drives their car for them given the fact that it's much safer than humans driving?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Given that people entrust technology to assist them with so many of their daily activities, the scenario of people trusting A.I. to drive their cars is extrememly likely.

As technology progresses, humans become *dependent* on those technologies in order to function efficiently within daily life. Necessary activities such as work, shopping, travel, and social networking rely on big tech infrastructure so much so that it is no longer optional not to use these systems. 

While A.I. self-driving vehicles are not currently at the level of safety and testing where they are ready for mass adoption, they most likely will be in the near future. And when they become mass adopted, you will find the scenario in which driving one's own vehicle is the exception rather than the norm.<|im_end|>