Google held its annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, discussing numerous topics. As usual in shareholder-related meetings, Google felt the need to reassure investors that despite its investments in “moon shot” ideas like Google Glass and self-driving cars, the company continues to invest in its core business.
But this time, Schmidt also took the time to talk up the cars. He told the crowd, “In a hundred years time, I wonder, and I really do wonder, whether people will marvel that we allowed humans to drive cars.”
“The potential to reduce accidents, to cut congestion, to get rid of a lot of wasted parking lots,” he added. “And the mobility self-driving cars will bring to people with impaired mobility will be life changing.”
Schmidt then proceeded to show the crowd the classic video where a Google car drives a blind man to Taco Bell.
The meeting then transitioned to showing off the new Google Maps, as if attendees did not pay attention to Google I/O.