Are any software or aeronautical engineers yet attempting to design pilotless passenger planes (PPP'S)?
Serious discussion of removing passenger jet pilots?  No.

Serious discussion of making pilotless VTOL aircraft? Yes.

Uber, for one, is already working on this. Check out this quote from page 40:


  To fast-forward to the safest possible operational state for VTOL
  vehicles, network operators will be interested in the path that
  realizes full autonomy as quickly as possible.