autonowashing

noun

Etymology: From autonomous + -wash + -ing.

1. The practice of making unverified or misleading claims which misrepresent the appropriate level of human supervision required by a partially or semi-autonomous product, service, or technology.

   “Hence, the case for the use of the term "autonowashing" to describe the gap in the presentation of automation and the actual system capabilities is put forth. This paper presents case studies and discusses key issues in autonowashing, a term/concept that influences or relates to public perceptions of vehicle automation.”

   “[Dixon] cites the use of vague language and the failure to prove claims as being characteristics of autonowashing, and she highlights the media’s culpability in relation to its ‘utopian’ reporting and exaggeration of the level of autonomy. Indeed, there are numerous examples of articles whose headlines suggest they are about ‘driverless’ vehicles but that go on to reveal that there is a safety driver at the wheel.”