World’s First Race of A.I.-Driven Cars Was Filled With Spins, Swerves and Stops | Smart News [Video]

The world of driverless cars hit a unique milestone last weekend in a first-of-its-kind race in Dubai.

At first glance, the eight competing, turbocharged vehicles—complete with a six-speed gearbox and 550 horsepower—resembled a usual suite of racing cars. And yet, they had no cockpits, instead featuring cameras, computers and sensors where a driver normally would sit. Machine learning software tracked the cars’ tire and brake temperatures and controlled steering, shifting, accelerating, braking and overtaking.

Rather than a race driver’s expertise and instinct, it was international teams’ skill in producing complex, A.I.-powered vehicles that was put to the test. The event, the inaugural competition of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), took place in Dubai’s Yas Marina Circuit, a track known as the annual host of a Formula One Grand Prix.

By most accounts, it wasn’t the smoothest launch. Just four cars qualified for the final, …