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Debate Rages Over Self-Driving Car Software

Photo: Art by Scotty Reifsnyder

Is a self-driving car safe if its software is made by different companies—or does one firm need to make all the key pieces? That’s one of the biggest questions in the self-driving car field right now. And the answer will determine whether the likes of Alphabet’s Waymo and Ford have a clear edge over rivals like BMW, Fiat Chrysler and Volkswagen/Audi.

Billions of dollars are being poured into both sides of the debate. Chances are, only one will be right. And whoever is right will get a head start on the other side.

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