Google makes its self-driving cars friendlier with artist prints and colors

Google's self-driving car prototypes still look as cartoony as ever, but some of them are now a lot livelier, thanks to the company's "Paint the Town" project. The Big G asked local California artists to submit original works of art that reflect the theme "my community, my neighbors." It then selected 10 winners and two honorable mentions whose pieces now decorate the doors of prototypes being tested in Google's home city. There's an artistic depiction of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, one that shows the sunset as seen from Highway 101 and another that focuses on neighborhoods' green spaces -- you can see them all right here. The tech juggernaut just wrapped up submissions for its cars in Austin, Texas, as well, so expect to see more colorful prototypes in the future.