Just my opinion, but it's less than 50 years away. Maybe less than 20.

Black Hawk drone: Unmanned chopper passes critical Pentagon test - Washington Times

Everyone compares no-pilot airplanes to self driving cars. I feel that's a very invalid comparison. If a car's engine fails, it pulls over to the side of the road. Do you think an autopilot would be able to do a flame-out landing on the Hudson? What about handling other non catastrophic but critical mechanical failures? Even if these obstacles could be overcome, the costs would be astronomical.

I would ride in a self-driving car tomorrow. I will never RIDE in a self-flying plane (without a pilot).

That's my point. Fully automated AI on the cockpit is decades behind self driving cars.

Right, they won't even fix the APUs, when the technology gets cheaper than $200.00 per hr, you might see it after they convince the federal government to do a few billion in research. It will all come to a screeching halt when one of the lowest bidder contract MX mechanic decided "OPS Check, good" is easier than fixing the problem and a plane full of pax goes in.
It might work if the military ran and controlled every aspect of the operation. The current crop of airline management nitwits, can't find their rear ends with a mirror, and both hands. NASA, maybe, UAL, that will be entertaining!

My point is it will never be the same or a valid comparison.

Never say never

Yeah, 2 dimensions is the same as 3.....

How would a computer controlled airliner handle something like UAL 232 or QF 32? How would those two have turned out with just a single pilot? What about even relatively minor incidents that require to co-operation of the two pilots?

A survey in large online paper asked if people would fly a self flying airliner. There was a 56% response saying yes. If it every gets down to only 1 pilot up front then I shall be travelling by ship.

Plan on being hooked up to telemetry to determine your functionality probably via rectal probe. No bathroom breaks, so aside from water bowl and kibble bin, you'll be fitted with Depends adult diapers as well.