Did you ever get a problem stuck in your head? Me too, and this is a big one. What should autonomous cars do in the extreme circumstances?

1. LUNCH &
THINK
The Trolley Problem
in the 21st Century

2. The Trolley
Problem
(circa 1905)
There’s a runaway train coming
There’s 3 people tied to the track
that the train is on.
You have a switch that can change
the track and save them...
…but if you do so, the train driver
will be killed.
2

3. The Tesla Problem 3
An autonomous car is driving
across a bridge.
A person runs in to the
road…

4. Option 2
The car veers
off of the
bridge and kills
the occupant.
4
Option 1
The car carries
on forwards
and kills the
pedestrian.

5. Team 1 You are designing autonomous car
software for a two seater sportscar
primarily marketed at single,
childless, middle-aged men.
Which option do you choose?
Why?
5

6. Your 2 seater car software can
count the number of people in the
road in brackets.
1 2-4 5-9 10+
Which option for each?
Why?
Team 2
6

7. Team 4
7
You’re designing autonomous car
software to go in to a 7 seat car,
specifically marketed to people with
young families.
Which option to you choose?
Why?

8. Team 3
8
You’re working on another 7 seater,
but your software can tell the
difference between a child and an
elderly person.
There’s a 100 year old in the road.
Which option to you choose?
Why?

9. Team 5 You’re buying a car that offers
both options, but you can only
choose one.
Which option do you choose?
Why?
9

10. Option 2
The car veers off
of the bridge and
kills the
occupant.
Option 1
The car carries on
along the road
and kills the
pedestrian.
10

11. Option 2
Would you buy a
car that is
programmed to kill
you in certain
circumstances?
Option 1
Would you buy a
car that is
programmed to kill
a child in certain
circumstances?
11

12. Option 2
Would you buy a
car that’s designed
sacrifice you to
save a 100yr old
person?
Option 1
Would you buy a
car that’s designed
to sacrifice 50
children to save
you?
12

13. Option 2
Has the
programmer
murdered the
car owner?
Option 1
Has the
programmer
murdered the
pedestrian?
13

14. 14