Doing ML with stereo vision is very hard in controlled settings, and I don't even wanna think how hard it has to be in moving vehicles with lots reflections and other IRL stuff.
I wonder if these cars distinguish between "I don't know what's in this space" and "I'm sure this space is empty". I hope they do... If the car doesn't recognize the other car right away it is no problem, as long as it is 100% sure it can stop in time if something appears.
I believe safe autonomous cars should behave a bit strange to human sensibilites: They would drive a LOT more defensive in many situations since they cannot be 100% sure that a child is not going to pop out the bushes and onto the street. But on a freeway, maybe if they negotiated with all surrounding cars to drive as a "fleet", it would be able to drive a LOT faster than the safe speed limit for a human driver. The comfort of the passengers would become the limiting factor in many situations.
My god, and this is on the roads?