On Friday, the California Department of Motor Vehicles published a document outlining a list of newly approved areas of coverage for Alphabet, Inc.’s robotaxi service Waymo, and the implications could be massive. The areas where “testing and deployment” of Waymo driverless taxis will now be legally tolerated by the state include two massive, apparently continuous […]
A Waymo Robotaxi May Have Recorded Footage of a Deadly Shooting in San Francisco
A lethal shooting in San Francisco over the weekend may have been recorded by a nearby robotaxi—a possibility that suggests the ways in which America’s new autonomous vehicle cadres may soon become pivotal to law enforcement probes. The shooting in question, which took place in the city’s Mission neighborhood, left one man dead and another […]
Is Waymo Ready for the Icy Streets of Detroit and Denver? It Had Better Be, Because It’s Coming
Add San Diego and Las Vegas to the list of cities getting the Waymo treatment. The company says those cities should see self-driving Waymo vehicles on the road soon as it launches service there in 2026. Oh, and also the frequently icy streets of Detroit. Even though Waymo’s cabs (the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr […]
Elon Musk Wades Into the Debate Over Robotaxis Killing Cats. Guess Which Side He’s On
In between trying to become the world’s first trillionaire, expanding his defense contracting business, fighting the “woke mind virus,” feuding with Sam Altman, and overseeing half a dozen tech companies, Elon Musk has somehow found the time to wade into the debate over whether it’s good or bad that a rogue Waymo robotaxi (by the […]
People Are Back-Flipping Off of Waymo’s Robotaxis
In a bizarre (or hilarious) late-night episode that underscored public unease with autonomous vehicles, several men climbed onto stalled Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco’s Marina District and began attacking them. They then started sitting and climbing on them, and are one point began doing back flips off the driverless cars while a crowd cheered. City […]
Waymo Says You’re Not Getting its Footage Without a Warrant
Waymo is quietly drawing new boundaries over how authorities access data from its autonomous vehicles. The company said it will reject any requests that are not backed by a legal request such as a warrant or court order. The move is one of several signaling a growing tension between innovation, privacy, and law enforcement power. […]
Waymo Gets First Driverless Car Permit in NYC
Waymo has become the first autonomous vehicle operator to secure a permit to test self-driving cars on the streets of New York City, the state’s department of transportation said in announcing the news. The New York City Department of Motor Vehicles approved Waymo’s application, allowing the company to conduct limited testing of its autonomous vehicles […]
Tesla’s Nightmare Continues As Musk Warns of “Rough Quarters”Ahead
Tesla’s second-quarter earnings paint a grim picture: falling profits, slumping sales, and a reputation hit that keeps on hurting. The all-electric carmaker reported net income of $1.17 billion, down 16.3% from the same period in 2024. Revenue fell 12% to $22.5 billion from $25.5 billion a year earlier, marking Tesla’s second consecutive quarter of declining […]
Tesla and Google’s Robotaxis Still Really Aren’t That Autonomous
Tesla’s impending robotaxi service comes with a whole list of caveats you’ll need to agree to before you huddle into the backseat of its autonomous vehicles. Or, perhaps they’re not really that autonomous. The first Tesla Model Y Cybercab services will be limited to select participants (including Tesla influencers), but even then drivers can expect […]
Waymo’s Driverless Cars Revealed to Be Narcs as Cops Use Them to Probe Crimes
Well, that didn’t take long. Cops are now using videos recorded by Waymo self-driving cars to assist them in their investigations. If you live in a city where robotaxis are prevalent (i.e. San Francisco or Los Angeles), this likely means you have a good shot at inadvertently ending up in the background of some sort […]