Autonomous Driving Enters New Growth Phase

There is a growing view that the industry trends surrounding autonomous vehicles (AVs) are entering a new phase of expansion. In the transportation and mobility sector, the role that AI plays is becoming larger than ever, fundamentally transforming the structure of the entire industry.

Autonomous driving technology has been researched and demonstrated since the 2010s, but the initial "boom" experienced temporary stagnation due to safety concerns, regulatory barriers, and technological limitations. Many companies were forced to withdraw or downsize, and the entire industry adopted a more cautious stance during this period. This current movement is positioned as a "second wave" reflecting lessons learned from that experience.

Supporting this new expansion phase is the rapid evolution of AI. Advances in large language models and image recognition technology precision have enabled vehicles to understand their surroundings more accurately and make complex decisions. This technological foundation-building brings autonomous driving's practical implementation within realistic reach.

AI's penetration into the mobility field extends beyond autonomous driving. Efficiency improvements in logistics and delivery, optimization of public transportation, and even applications in urban planning—AI is being embedded throughout transportation infrastructure in various locations. These changes can be understood less as individual technological innovations and more as a restructuring of social infrastructure.

However, challenges remain. Public road operation of autonomous vehicles requires regulatory compliance tailored to each country and region, and in many areas, the pace of legal development has not kept up with technological progress. Discussions regarding safety verification and clarification of liability continue to be important topics.

What deserves attention going forward is where and how technological maturity and regulatory environment development will align. Pioneering deployments in specific cities or regions may serve as a touchstone indicating the industry's overall direction. We are entering a stage where the actual reality of how AI will transform mobility is gradually becoming clearer.