California Public Utilities Commission issued permits Monday to GM's Cruise and Alphabet's Waymo to allow self-driving passenger service vehicles. The vehicles must have safety drivers present, but will primarily operate autonomously between 10 pm and 6 am.
Baby steps. The step to a limited trial of the self-driving ride service comes after a period of test rides with no fare collection permitted. It is a step toward full automation, but a small one only covering San Francisco by Cruise and San Francisco with San Mateo by Waymo.
Telling it like it is - If California is cool with a new technology, we should probably get ready to hear more about it.