Going beyond the plane analogy everyone is going with, all major transportation systems that utilize autopilot systems (planes, ships, trains) require training that teaches the pilots (or conductors for trains) to know how to stay alert and when to take over.

Perhaps it is true that the semi-intelligent autopilot is good enough for these trained activities, but the untrained public doesn't realize that autopilot today is not full automation.

Flying a plane is more difficult, therefore requires more training. But driving a car requires licensing (certification) and training.

Meaningful training is not required to get a driver's license in the U.S. In most states it is completely adequate for a parent to teach you to drive, with no minimum number of hours in a classroom, public or private.

Pilots also receive ongoing currency training. This doesn't exist for automobile drivers. Maybe some states require a written test every few years? But in the three states I've lived in, no written, oral, or in-car test it recurrency training required since the original was issued when I was 15 or whenever.

I had to pass a 20 question multiple choice test, drive at 15mph on a short course and parallel park to get my license at 17 years old. That was my only certification process. Unless laws change, I will never have to go through a training or certification process again in my life.

Comparing pilot certification to that of a driver's is disingenuous.

Thankfully, it's not that easy in all countries. For my test, 3 failures in any category was an instant fail. It's fairly hard to pass the first time.

Although if US drivers are so untrained, perhaps auto-pilot is even more relevant.

No doubt, but both groups need to supervise their Autopilots because autopilots of any kind have always been supervised. That's the point the grandparent is making.

The supervision required for the airplanes is not the same. If airplane autopilot flies you straight into the ground and turns off half a second before hitting it, that won't count as an acceptable behavior on it's part.