The “inevitable pilotless airliners” story happens every couple of years, someone finds the slightest comment to get media attention, technology aficionados make comments saying “it’s only a matter of time”, pilots say “not so fast”, manufacturers say “we’re exploring all possibilities”…… and eventually nothing eventuates, the stories are put to bed before the media cycle happens again.
Like the “Cathay A350 single pilot in cruise” stories that happened a few years ago. Once the media had run their stories it all went quiet.