Gallery: I Rode 500 Miles in a Self-Driving Car and Saw the Future. It's Delightfully Dull

  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car Sports Car Tire Coupe Wheel Machine Spoke and Car Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    01

    audi-jack-gallery-01

    We spent two days driving in an autonomous Audi A7, from Palo Alto to Las Vegas, for CES.
  • Image may contain Human Person Cushion Sunglasses Accessories Accessory Vehicle Transportation Driving and Car
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    02

    audi-jack-gallery-04

    The interface for autonomous mode is easy to understand. To hand over control, hit those two buttons on the steering wheel at the same time.
  • Image may contain Electronics Hardware Router and Modem
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    03

    audi-jack-gallery-03

    When the car's in piloted mode, a bar of LED lights below the windshield turns blue-green. It turns yellow, then red, when it's set to shut off.
  • Image may contain Electronics GPS Screen Monitor and Display
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    04

    audi-jack-gallery-08

    Google Maps is standard in Audi cars, but the autonomous A7 concept uses enhanced maps with extra info about things like turn radii.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car Tire Wheel Machine Car Wheel Spoke and Alloy Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    05

    audi-jack-gallery-02

    Apart from the special paint job, it's hard to tell 'Jack' apart from a conventional Audi A7 on the road.
  • Image may contain Wheel Machine Tire Car Wheel Spoke and Alloy Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    06

    audi-jack-gallery-09

    It's powered by a 3.0-liter engine that produces 310 horsepower, and sits on 19-inch wheels.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Automobile Car Tire Wheel Machine Alloy Wheel Spoke and Car Wheel
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    07

    audi-jack-gallery-06

    Radars are tucked behind the body panels at each of the car's corners.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car Road Adventure Leisure Activities Freeway and Highway
    Josh Valcarcel/WIRED
    08

    audi-jack-gallery-10

    Audi's 30-car convoy into Las Vegas was accompanied by a helicopter.
Read More
Breathe Easy Thanks to the Best Air Purifier for Every Home
Protect your home against dust, pets, allergens, and more with the best air purifiers, tested firsthand.
Molly Higgins
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Mattresses You Can Buy Online in 2026
WIRED has tested 100-plus bed-in-a-box mattresses for a week each. Our top pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe hybrid, is the best bed you can buy online.
Julia Forbes
The Best Meal Kits of 2026, Tested by a Former Restaurant Critic
Here are the best delivery services and meal kits in 2026, including Martha Stewart’s meal service, a GLP-1–supportive plan, and a budget-friendly option.
Matthew Korfhage
The 10 Best WIRED-Tested Pet Cameras
Whether you’re near or far, keep an eye on your fur baby with our favorite pet cameras.
Molly Higgins
The Best Qi2 and MagSafe Wireless Chargers for Your Phone
Top up your Qi2 Android phone or MagSafe iPhone with a magnetic wireless charging stand, pad, car charger, or power bank.
Simon Hill
The Best Portable Power Stations for Blackouts, Camping, or Van Life
Whether you’re going off-grid or safeguarding against blackouts, these beefy, WIRED-tested batteries can keep the lights on.
Simon Hill
The Best Pet Hair Vacuums We Tried at Home
Cordless, handheld, robot, and traditional—we tested them all to find the vacuum that’s fantastic for fur.
Molly Higgins
The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
Apple just raised its prices. Here’s an updated breakdown of the brand’s tablets to find the best one for your needs.
Luke Larsen
23 Gift Ideas for the Cook in Your Life
From the best air fryer to frying pans to knife sharpeners anyone can use, these ideas will keep the curious home chef in your life tinkering away.
Matthew Korfhage
28 Amazing STEM Toys Approved by WIRED Kids
We found lots of math-filled and science-rich toys for tiny nerds to assemble, bake, squish—or even tear apart and rebuild.
Simon Hill
The Best Wi-Fi Routers to Reach Every Corner of Your Home
Don’t suffer the buffer. These WIRED-tested home routers will deliver reliable internet across your home, whatever your needs or budget.
Simon Hill