Zoox's exemption is a milestone, but regulations aren't the real issue for autonomous vehicles

Zoox finally got an interim exemption from NHTSA, allowing them to operate paid driverless taxis. This is the first time at the US federal level that a green light has been given to vehicles without steering wheels, and with Amazon this giant stepping into the arena personally, the significance for the track is indeed different. But honestly, this exemption itself isn't a surprise—the surprises are how long Zoox dragged its feet, and whether the product form they chose can actually be accepted by ordinary people.