In my conversation with Damian Reilly the Arabian Business, we talked about how cars are rapidly becoming part of the internet — and how that shift goes well beyond just autonomy on the roads. I explained that as vehicles get smarter and increasingly connected with infrastructure, other cars, and digital services, our entire transportation system is evolving into a distributed network rather than a collection of isolated machines. 

I stressed that self-driving technology is only the beginning: the real transformation will come when vehicles exchange data with cities, traffic systems, and each other to optimise flow, safety and efficiency. That raises big questions — not just technical ones about connectivity and platforms, but societal ones about privacy, regulation and whether we’re ready for this level of digital integration. 

I also shared my perspective that while this connectivity has huge potential benefits — from fewer accidents to new mobility services — we need to think carefully about the implications for jobs, urban planning and how we govern these systems as they become an extension of the internet itself.