A tech entrepreneur’s airport commute turned into a bizarre ordeal when he became trapped in a Waymo driverless taxi circling a parking lot in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mike Johns, who was on his way to catch a flight, documented the incident in a video shared on LinkedIn. Unable to exit the vehicle due to its automated locking system, he expressed concerns about safety, even wondering if the car had been hacked.
Fortunately, Johns eventually received a refund and made it to the airport in time. However, the incident highlights persistent challenges in the development of autonomous vehicle technology. Despite years of research, driverless taxis continue to encounter operational flaws, such as getting stuck or failing to adapt to unexpected scenarios.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, has been expanding its robotaxi services in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Plans are underway for launches in Austin, Miami, and Tokyo. Yet, the journey toward reliable driverless transportation remains bumpy. Similar ventures, like General Motors’ Cruise, have faced safety issues, leading to temporary shutdowns.
These challenges have raised doubts about whether robotaxis can truly replace human-driven rides. Studies suggest that Waymo rides not only cost more but also take twice as long compared to traditional ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft.
Critics argue that while robotaxis promise efficiency, they often lack the human connection that traditional rides provide. “It’s just another example of a half-baked product in today’s digital world,” Johns told CBS News.
As the competition to perfect driverless technology intensifies, the focus must shift to addressing real-world challenges. Until then, many customers may choose to rely on traditional ride-hailing services, valuing human interaction over convenience promised by automation.
Reference- LinkedIn, LA Times reports, Waymo PR & website, Futurism, CBS News, Yahoo website