Fire and Wheels: Tesla's Robotaxi Takes Flight in Austin, or Did It Just Stumble?

A Queen's Decree on Electric Chariots

Hear me people of Westeros... and beyond! Your Khaleesi Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen First of Her Name Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men Queen of Meereen Protector of the Realm Lady Regnant of the Seven Kingdoms Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons has turned her gaze to this 'Tesla' and its 'Robotaxi'. Elon Musk this… ambitious fellow has unleashed these metal beasts upon the unsuspecting streets of Austin Texas. It seems I'm not the only one who dreams of flying. But will these vehicles soar like Drogon or plummet like a Dornish plot?

A Feast of Wheels for Tesla Loyalists

This Musk has chosen to grace his most devout followers with the first rides. Those who sing his praises on 'X' and 'YouTube' – platforms as foreign to me as a calm Dothraki sea. They are charged a 'flat fee' of $4.20 per ride – a price that wouldn't even buy you a loaf of bread in King's Landing! Yet it seems loyalty has its rewards. I however prefer dragons. They don't require software updates.

A Decade of Hard Work or a Decade of Empty Promises?

Musk boasts of 'a decade of hard work' culminating in this event. A decade? I conquered Meereen faster than that! He lauds his 'AI chip and software teams,' built from scratch within Tesla. One passenger even claims eleven rides with 'zero issues'. It is good to be confident but as I told Jon Snow: Love is the death of duty. Hopefully this confidence does not blind him to the realities of the road.

When Dragons Fly Wrong

Alas not all is smooth sailing – or should I say smooth driving. Reports emerge of these 'Robotaxis' flouting the very rules they are meant to uphold. One allegedly wandered down the wrong side of the road – a navigational blunder worthy of Euron Greyjoy himself! Another slammed on its brakes at the mere sight of 'police vehicles' proving that even machines can be intimidated by authority. As Jorah Mormont taught me know what frightens people for that is what they fear.

Chasing Waymo and the Chinese Dragons

Musk once hailed as a pioneer now finds himself scrambling to catch up with 'Waymo' and the 'Chinese competitors.' Waymo boasts over 250,000 commercial rides per week. Apollo Go has surpassed 11 million trips. Musk aims for 'hundreds of thousands if not over a million' self driving cars by next year. He dreams big this one. Much like my own dreams of a peaceful Westeros. The only difference is that my dreams are more likely to happen. Dreams didn’t make us kings. Dragons did.

Fire and Blood... and Brakes?

Democratic lawmakers in Texas and public safety advocates urged him to delay this launch. Why? Because these systems have been linked to accidents even fatalities. 'Partially automated driving systems' they call them. I call them dangerous toys for those who lack the wisdom to wield them responsibly. Let us hope that these 'Robotaxis' do not become instruments of chaos lest I be forced to unleash Drogon once more. After all when the dragons are loosed from the pit there is no stopping them.