South African digital creator Banela Ndaba experienced the future of transportation by trying out Waymo’s driverless Uber service in Atlanta, USA, during the Fifa World Cup. Picture: HEATHER DIEHL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
Image: HEATHER DIEHL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
The future is now — well, in the USA at least.
South African digital creator Banela Ndaba, aka 'Moghelingz', has been in Atlanta following Bafana Bafana’s Fifa World Cup journey, and decided to try out a self-driving car service called Waymo.
While it might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie for most South Africans, the service appears to be growing in popularity in the United States.
Uber has partnered with Waymo as the technology becomes increasingly mainstream.
Ndaba begins his video walking through the streets of Atlanta, but soon becomes distracted while talking to camera.
He then gives viewers their first glimpse of the Waymo vehicle.
Ndaba admits to feeling some trepidation about getting into a car without a human driver, but ultimately decides it is an opportunity he simply wouldn’t get back home in Mzansi.
The white vehicle pulls up alongside him, with several cameras clearly visible on the exterior — technology the car relies on to navigate the roads.
The youngster climbs into the back seat and uses a touchscreen to begin his journey. He films the entire experience, including the steering wheel turning on its own as the vehicle rounds corners.
It feels like something straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, reminiscent of scenes from the movie Total Recall when this future seemed a distant fantasy.
Throughout the trip, Ndaba appears both fascinated and slightly stunned by the experience before jokingly declaring: “Let me chill, I’m used to this.”
Waymo also allows passengers to choose the music they want to listen to during the ride — another benefit of removing the human element from the driving experience.
Naturally, Ndaba soon starts showing off some dance moves from the back seat while vibing to the music, all while safely buckled in.
“You can’t say I never lived,” Ndaba adds.
That much is certainly true. It may still be some time — if ever — before South Africans get the chance to experience this kind of technology on local roads.