Would You Jump Into a Driverless Car Today?

It was just after 5 AM this morning—my usual time to clear my head with a walk and catch up on the world. While listening to the BBC Global News Podcast, one story in particular got me thinking. It was about the growing rollout of driverless cars. They’re already operational across parts of the US and China, and the UK is planning to launch them by late 2027.

Naturally, I started wondering: when will we see them here in Australia?

But more than the timeline, it was the public’s reaction that caught my attention. Some people interviewed in London said they’d feel anxious getting into a car without a driver. One woman shared that she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to go through with it. It wasn’t about the technology—it was about trust.

Meanwhile, I found myself thinking—I’d jump in without hesitation.

The idea of climbing into a car and not having to think about conversation, directions, or traffic? Bliss. I could open my laptop, enjoy some silence, or simply relax—knowing that the vehicle is designed to prioritise safety above all else. Let’s face it, the biggest cause of road accidents is human error, not technology.

A Familiar Resistance

At Chat2, we started offering our hybrid human–AI live chat service over 11 years ago. Back then, we were doing something few others were—real people answering customer enquiries 24/7, backed by smart automation to ensure speed and consistency. It was a new concept, and we knew it would take time.

And it did.

Businesses hesitated. There was fear around losing control of that first interaction. Some worried their brand voice wouldn’t be captured. Others weren’t sure if their customers would respond well to it. We had to earn their trust—conversation by conversation.

Fast Forward to Today

Now, many of those same businesses say to us: “We wish we’d done this sooner.”

We’ve become that dependable frontline team—saving businesses time, boosting their direct conversions, and freeing up internal staff to focus on more complex or high-value tasks. But there’s another powerful outcome that’s often overlooked:

We provide insights into online customer behaviour that many businesses never had access to before.

What are customers really asking? What are they confused about? What’s stopping them from making a booking or completing a purchase? With Chat2, all of that becomes visible. That data is gold.

And yet—even with that proven value—we still face hesitation every single day. Even after 11 years, introducing our service to a new client is still a tough sell. Because just like stepping into a driverless car, allowing someone else (even highly trained professionals) to be your first point of contact online feels like a risk.

The Technology Is Ready—Are We?

What’s interesting is that the technology—whether it’s autonomous vehicles or hybrid AI live chat—is already working. It’s people who need to catch up. That leap of trust is the last hurdle.

So here’s a question to think about:

Would you jump into a driverless car today? Or are you waiting for others to test the waters first?
The way you answer might just reveal how ready you are to embrace innovation in your own business.

If you’re curious about how Chat2 can help guide your customers, grow your conversions, and give you insight like never before—let’s start a conversation.

👉 Click here to book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our team today.