US tells Google computers can qualify as drivers

Detroit

US vehicle safety regulators have said the artificial intelligence system piloting a self-driving Google car could be considered the driver under federal law, a major step towards ultimately winning approval for autonomous vehicles on the roads.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, of its decision in a previously unreported Feb 4 letter to the company posted on the agency's website this week.