I took a ride in Waymo's self driving taxi

Waymo operates a fully autonomous ride hailing service in San Francisco, Phoenix and coming soon to Los Angeles.
I took a ride in one of their fully autonomous cars in San Francisco. See how it works, from booking a ride to driving on city streets without anyone in the driver's seat.

[@lolacookie453]

Rode Waymo a couple weeks ago here in LA while family was visiting. Everyone loved it more than 90% of the Uber rides we took! Never felt unsafe, smooth ride, spotless car. Loved it!

[@zackmollusc3522]

I was worried about how the robocar would handle the junctions and other traffic, but having watched some guy tell me about how to put luggage in the car and charge his phone I now have complete faith in the sensors and the predictive algorithms used to make the robocar safe on the roads. Good job.

[@grazz7865]

Until it breaks

[@stevengold]

@@grazz7865 regular cars don't also break?

[@grazz7865]

@@stevengold of course they do-less frequently if they’re well maintained. My point is the engine on my car could (if well maintained) last the life of the vehicle. If the engine did fail at some point, it might be an $8,000 job to fix or replace at which point I would have to decide if it’s worth it or not. On an electric car, the battery will (not if-doesn’t matter how well you maintain it) have to be replaced at a cost of $20,000. I’m almost certain the vehicle won’t be worth half that at that point. No one in their right mind would buy a vehicle in that situation so it’s off to the junk yard at that point.

[@robertwilsoniii2048]

What does luggage have to do with driving saftey?

[@bibigeorgewill3516]

​@stevengold there is a possibility of the car malfunctioning

[@liftnd844]

Only seen these video of cars in perfect sunny day operations. How about a ride through Chicago in January!?

[@mjg239]

This is an advertorial for Waymo. I’m pretty sure this is sponsored content paid for by the company to KTLA. I’m not mad at it. I just wish there was a “sponsored content” ticker somewhere in the story so we know when it’s paid news story or not.

[@Tsukasa_Kudamaki]

Your assuming it's a paid for ad "I'm pretty sure" being the key phrase

[@Kr0nicDragon]

Don’t forget the at&t fiber ticker. Anyone remember when the news was about the news instead of whoring out?

[@hmt5oo]

Not necessary. Because soon you are going to start watching Artificial Intelligence AI tv anchors and producers and writers and no staff or lightening or catering or musical or decorative or makeup or +++× Everything will be done by AI and it will be amazing. The media stations will be saving lot of money same like uber and big taxi companies that will put all drivers out of jobs...but life will keep going. Let start with drivers ...and next few months. Different sectors will follow..

[@DrSaav-my5ym]

in the future hackers are going to love self driving cars

[@grazz7865]

Forget about hacking. The car is super easy to manipulate. Just stand in front of it. It won’t even honk at you. Then an accomplice can break the windows and rob the occupants. The waymo probably won’t even call the police 😂😂😂

[@nicandkiritos22]

This is what I'm saying! Hackers can make it go wherever it wants ! Waymo can suck it, stop taking jobs from people!

[@rp9674]

There is a story several years ago in wired magazine, they hacked a Jeep, not easy, not autonomous

[@lleon-cv4ex]

Who was in the front seat though? Part of the crew or with the car company?

[@motlevi]

There was no one in the driver's seat, but who was the woman in the front passenger seat, evidently hiding from the camera?

[@diy_lothar4422]

She´s the artificial intelligence

[@critterdude311]

Got to pay extra for her

[@andrewpippa5590]

She may have been part of the camera crew. There was a tripod in the trunk and possibly a camera. Very cool taxi.

[@RaymondHng]

ABC7 News SF Bay Area reporter Lyanne Melendez took a Waymo to the Randall Museum in San Francisco. It never reached the destination. The closest it arrived to the destination then required a five-minute walk. It appears the vehicle is not programmed to go down dead end streets. Her frustrating experience titled "TV journalist documents wild ride inside Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco" can be viewed on the ABC7 News Bay Area KZbin channel.

[@PowerSerge]

People when they see no driver: 👁👄👁

[@ggowan]

Great to see how much fun you had with that story! Loved it!

[@magurotuna455]

It's all fun until a basement dweller starts hacking the car and gives u the ride of ur life with a wild police chase as the icing on the cake

[@iknowledgeaqu]

'We've been sitting on the evidence linking Wireless Radiation to the mass shooting epidemic and chronic disease. We need to examine our epidemics in the context of EMF Saturation' -Dr. Sharon Goldberg kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZq5dmmIepJmf8U

[@whatisthisnewfeaturehandle]

I mean, if done right you can get a free car... before going to jail.

[@nicandkiritos22]

Thank you ! I've been trying to say this! This is the best comment so far

[@leonardschoenborn9209]

Since the layout of the streets of San Francisco can be extremely convoluted, I am very surprised there are not more issues. I find it extremely impressive that Waymo obtained regulatory approval and put robotaxi's on the road before Tesla despite all their publicity and hype that pervades the internet. Congratulations!!! Reply

[@EVChargers-d9z]

There ARE waymore issues.... You're assuming that this video was meant to indicate they don't exist? Just do a search for WAYMO fails/problems.

[@shatteredscry]

Im imagining the AI cars having road rage. They see every imperfection about our driving. Its going to pass me 5mph above the speed limit blaring its horn at me while siri cusses me out 😂

[@grazz7865]

Something else to break. Not a question of if, but when

[@SuZull]

In the future, there are no taxi drivers anymore. Just only self driving taxi driver

[@denisechavers-bates7770]

My family and I took rides in Waymo in Phoenix this week. It was great and safe. Looking forward to Waymo coming to LA.

[@johnwayne397]

and drivers losing jobs

[@rauchu5861]

@@johnwayne397 i have to check pricing wise uber vs waymo

[@GabrielNicho]

@@johnwayne397 The more jobs that disappear the better, means we don't have to do them. Government should offer some paid retraining though.

[@ung427]

It's always great and safe until it's not. But when you are in an accelerating car and the doors won't open, it's too late already...

[@pennytrui1149]

​@@ung427that won't happen lol waymo has 2 computers a main one that does the driving and a secondary one that checks for threats. If it detects a malfunction the secondary computer takes over pulls over and stops the car.

[@vickiehurt2665]

Waymoooo…. Hi Waymoooo!! I see them all the time where I am in Culver City/Palms California!

[@BE60IFR]

Hmm 🤔 Johnny Cab from the movie, Total Recall ??😂

[@dlewis8405]

Heckuva Day!

[@butterfliesarefreetofly6964]

Made me LOL!! 😂😂😂 Thanks for the good laugh! I would’ve never thought of that!😂😂

[@Hendoggy909]

I guess it's waymo better than walking

[@jofbeats11]

I really feel like in near future its gonna put both uber, lift, and cab drivers in general out of jobs if more self driving cabs are being used

[@SafetyisFirst]

Ya think Sherlock?

[@CentralValleyOperator]

If that thing can drive in San Francisco it can drive anywhere! Driving in San Francisco is easily one of the hardest places to drive.

[@amusinov23]

Drive in NYC,,you'll change your mine

[@RaymondHng]

ABC7 News SF Bay Area reporter Lyanne Melendez took a Waymo to the Randall Museum in San Francisco. It never reached the destination. The closest it arrived to the destination then required a five-minute walk. It appears the vehicle is not programmed to go down dead end streets. Her frustrating experience titled "TV journalist documents wild ride inside Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco" can be viewed on the ABC7 News Bay Area KZbin channel.

[@grazz7865]

@@amusinov23exactly! 5 lanes melted into one. Single lanes where the car barely fits. Major streets closed entirely to pedestrians.

[@wildone4324]

The last people had the funny idea of putting 69 as the current temp I see lol 🤣

[@mark99k]

If our ~30 rides are any indication, the car always arrives with the setting at 69.

[@obi1701]

What happens when you don't close the door?

[@grazz7865]

Probably won’t move. Easy ways for a burglar to rob people. Just stand in front of the car or hold the door open. Stupid thing probably won’t even call the cops.

[@SpaceMiner007]

How coooool it is! Green powered?

[@neroknight1234]

I love the concept but I can never trust this type of technology with my life lol. Only auto vehicle I would get into would be a train or maybe a plane

[@nelsonfreude]

Bruh, how are those better exactly?

[@JesusChrist-vq6lk]

​@@nelsonfreudeI can see how a train could be better.. no way a plane though

[@Rilex037]

@@JesusChrist-vq6lk bro, planes are already 99% auto drive, has been for over few decades.

[@JesusChrist-vq6lk]

@@Rilex037 yeah I suppose so

[@jazzdrumguy5044]

Who was in the front seat???

[@awa3374]

Human mind has no bounds. Just need freedom.

[@fourroadsnorth2723]

Will it intuit q reckless move by a lane changer in busy traffic? It's something experienced drivers do. What about people who don't signal a lane change - react quickly enough?

[@ung427]

How do they get the speed limit? Hopefully not from the signs posted... people are going to start sticking, "200mph" on the signs just to see what these things would do...

[@oeao2841]

I'd sit in the middle back seat 💺 incase there's a crash

[@leonardbrinkman4410]

I would much rather ride in a waymo vehicle then a tesla. They'll be more safer than a Tesla anyway to begin with!

[@oeao2841]

@@leonardbrinkman4410 how so?

[@mihneacireasa4613]

@@oeao2841 I believe you can see the huge sensors on the sides and top of the car. Waymo can fit them because no one cares how their taxis look. Tesla's on the other hand, while being very advanced themselves, have to make do with much less real estate for radars, sensors and cameras since people buy their cars for personal use and no one would want their car to look like waymo's (aerodynamics asside)

[@Peter-pv8xx]

What's preventing someone from hijacking it?

[@IwinIalwayswin]

I dont think a real person can drive it

[@marcroberts9002]

WHO’S THE GIRL IN THE PASSENGER SEAT? SAFETY DRIVER?

[@johnreid7965]

News stations creating adverts, very cool...

[@whatisthisnewfeaturehandle]

I guess I'll wear protective gear or something riding this one day.

[@Al-kb2xl]

I’d be scared af

[@greenbunnyinabongo7299]

You gonna be sat there wearing nothing but a condom?

[@grazz7865]

God help me when something goes wrong. Not a question of it but when.

[@videre8884]

I don't have a cell phone.....I don't want to buy one either. Do I have to walk now???

[@BabalwaSihamba]

❤

[@mitsucarpentry]

Say good bye to your driving job just like self check out cashiers

[@altertopias]

Well, in self check-out it's still a human who does the manual part. They just unloaded the job onto the client 😂

[@celesteschoenke2531]

I had a dream I was in the back seat of a car driving itself and I googled and found out it exists

[@gk780]

Wish to see it in Seattle too. :)

[@Pnw_Railfan_Aviation]

Me to!!!

[@mandman3333]

In recent months, the autonomous vehicles have been caught in countless hit and run incidents, have held up emergency responders THANK YOU @Waymo

[@triple7marc]

Sounds like human drivers. At any rate, incidents will occur. It's all part of testing.

[@EVChargers-d9z]

No.... not "countless" - there's data....

[@willyjoerockhead]

Commercial?

[@jasonchow2512]

What are the spinny things on the top of the car and at the back? Anyone know.

[@fluktuition]

lidar.

[@rp9674]

Science

[@rustynuts4426]

Amazing, now drug dealers don't even have to get in the taxi

[@leonardbrinkman4410]

I cannot wait until laemmle one starts running out here in Washington state primarily in the Seattle area. And what could be fun about it is this that I'm going to be able to get used to it and that's going to be it. But since I am legally blind in one eye I'm going to have a tough time trying to navigate the app!

[@MarkBerenger]

you can run everything with your voice these days and if all else fails, there's always a ride assistant available thru their touch screen like they pointed out

[@Ash_Rein]

Maybe it could be important to learn how to use accessibility features on your phone, such as screen readers. And by the time this comes out in Ernest, everything is pretty much going to be accessible anyway. You’re probably going to be able to talk to your phone as if you were talking to a friend.

[@nicandkiritos22]

Waymo can suck it, it's taking jobs from people, what about costumer service. Robo taxi! Each one is a family that cannot eat now!!!!

[@leonardbrinkman4410]

@@nicandkiritos22why do you think that there will be a whole lot of people on the street?

[@Ash_Rein]

@@nicandkiritos22 it balances itself out. New jobs get created to replace the ones that are going to get lost. There’s going to be a need for more engineers and mechanics to maintain this technology for example. Also, it’s important to consider why we might want to have less children as a whole.

[@sergiysvirkov4669]

Good day, everyone! This Waymo self-driving taxi video is a glimpse into the future, and I can't help but imagine the day when these autonomous taxis might make their way to Kyiv. With the unwavering support from our American friends, like-minded individuals who believe in progress and innovation, I have hope that someday, we'll see self-driving taxis in Kyiv too. Let's keep working towards a brighter future, together! 🌟🚖

[@hmt5oo]

Awasome..😂 I just start watching tv programms and documentary that is done and produced completely by Artificial inteliigence AI... It was amazing .

[@MoogieOogie]

Im not quite sure of this yet. Computers are good, but not yet completely infallible. For now, Ill take a pass.Too many unforseen possibilities.

[@gooderlinsen]

In the meantime, Tesla FSD is still hitting cars left and right

[@cotalk]

Cause Elon hates Lidar tech

[@leonardbrinkman4410]

Yes and they're still trying to run over children as well. That is why the founder of greenhill software it's going to basically say enough's enough that he wants Elon musk to pull self-driving feature from his Tesla. Well I'm afraid there's going to be some bad news on that Mr musk will still keep doing what he's doing. So I think we all better wait and see what happens next.

[@abram730]

Tesla said F*** Nvidia, they doing it themselves, LOL. All the s*** that works runs on CUDA.

[@NBWDOUGHBOY]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@macdub42]

All while humans crash cars to the tune of 19,000 a day in the US.

[@SuperToby3]

I can't wait

[@rp9674]

There's a Wired Magazine article several years ago about hacking a Jeep, this is no more susceptible than any other car. Don't be scared just because it's new

[@keizer3452]

Taxi drivers will all lose theire jobs. While we implement this big risk on our roads !

[@omarcastro7239]

I'm a truck driver was traveling on the 10 fwy towards santa monica in LA was behind one of these vehicles the car will slow down but brake lights never turn on these cars are an accident ready to happen

[@nicandkiritos22]

I hate these things. I support truckers. I wouldn't want to see a car with no driver! Hell no, and it takes jobs away, and it can be hacked

[@IwinIalwayswin]

this guy is a pissed off uber lyft driver lol

[@EVChargers-d9z]

Please add some PUNCTUATION to your posts. You know.... periods, commas, capitalizations, etc.

[@hadirizvi5186]

Why do I feel like it's being remote controlled by a human driver for this demo?

[@theodorehaskins3756]

So who is the person in the front seat passenger side of the car?😂😂😂

[@kuakilyissombroguwi]

The future is now!

[@lowrollerscratcher3563]

A person is front seat? That a lie. It is human beings in front seat

[@NBWDOUGHBOY]

In 10 years. This will look like a unicycle vs. A Ferrari.

[@KingDragonBoyPrime1998]

It’s like a ghost driving a car

[@kenweidemoyer2221]

Great story and Thanks.

[@Annurgaia]

If there is no need for a driver why is there a place for one. Wouldn't it be easier to design a completely self driving car?

[@patrickharris4829]

Now thieves can disguise their cars to look like waymo. They won't even be looked at by police. Just an empty car.😅😅😅😅

[@cotalk]

I'm not putting my life in a robots hands like that. No, thank you.

[@iknowledgeaqu]

'We've been sitting on the evidence linking Wireless Radiation to the mass shooting epidemic and chronic disease. We need to examine our epidemics in the context of EMF Saturation' -Dr. Sharon Goldberg kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZq5dmmIepJmf8U

[@keymoney223]

I would cuz if something were to happen that pay out will be astronomical!

[@nelsonfreude]

These comments against this are going to age like curdled milk, I guarantee it. In fact, I bet someday, they will straight up BAN humans from driving. They've already taken many freedoms and liberties already: driving would just be another one.

[@greenbunnyinabongo7299]

It will be safer when all cars are driveless. Mark my words

[@grazz7865]

@@nelsonfreudethat’s because of the powers that be in office after a rigged election

[@carmenboddis3927]

No tipping 😀👍

[@johnreid7965]

What happens when a cop pulls you over?

[@grazz7865]

It doesn’t stop. Happened already

[@brightstar622]

Wow

[@ellisclarkstudios9797]

Zero thought about how this will put a lot of drivers out of work.

[@emwave100]

Once this has been thoroughly tested and all the kinks worked out, they need to just eliminate the driver seat all together and just make it a room on wheels.

[@tesfuleakemariam2023]

Let,s protest againist those taxi.

[@kingstk2798]

Sheesh, Delamain be gridin it

[@qiiq55]

Everything new things is great but how many drivers lose there jobs

[@lordbentley730]

I see a driver in the right front seat

[@vitalntagisanimana5600]

Wtf why am I just now finding out that the future has arrived?

[@xentaatnex8261]

I was expecting a Johnny Cab.

[@rsalek]

Hahaaa best comment!

[@xentaatnex8261]

@@rsalek just don't let it run you over if you don't pay for the ride.

[@iknowledgeaqu]

'We've been sitting on the evidence linking Wireless Radiation to the mass shooting epidemic and chronic disease. We need to examine our epidemics in the context of EMF Saturation' -Dr. Sharon Goldberg kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZq5dmmIepJmf8U

[@maxv3208]

Good luck with rush hour traffic in Los Angeles. Or if your running late to the airport. 😂

[@damianmmx]

In ten years you all will be unemployed 😢

[@그린개구리]

Google is amazing really good

[@iamrightyourwrong5198]

this is scary …

[@cb913]

I think you have to have the grinder app or the car wont pick you up.

[@robertwilsoniii2048]

This is really risky stuff man. Type 1 error is really dangerous and statistical software tends to be utilitarian. They'll say tjings like "safer than people" and throw out a statistic like "less average injuries per mile" and then gloss over the details and statistical assumptions that go into those calculations.

[@ateezyrozaytv1]

Scary

[@iknowledgeaqu]

'We've been sitting on the evidence linking Wireless Radiation to the mass shooting epidemic and chronic disease. We need to examine our epidemics in the context of EMF Saturation' -Dr. Sharon Goldberg kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZq5dmmIepJmf8U

[@j0ellyfish]

They have the little food delivery bots in LA, also. AI's getting cray.

[@Project_243]

So tesla is behind.

[@Disneylifedayandnight]

Skynet is evolving

[@mrmar-que6307]

👀

[@EVChargers-d9z]

Boy... they sure gave it the old college try with these videos.... too bad it was (still is) a failing premise for rideshare. The data doesn't lie.

[@kevinlemus2278]

$9 bucks...thats the same price for and Uber...and i have to walk to meet the car...wtf

[@RMBlake007]

Atleast with Uber, you are helping to keep someone employed that wants to be driving & outside...not in a windowless computer room doing Support, when the Waymo is stopped at a green light or won't unlock the doors for a customer that wants to leave.

[@sarahmatz4858]

Why is there a person in the front seat?

[@LillyMcNealWhite]

I think that was his producer or another camera person.

[@sarahmatz4858]

@@LillyMcNealWhite ty!

[@Justrandomvideos-2023]

The last thing ill ever do is putting my life in a none driver pos electric car

[@merlindragon3172]

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FIRST DUMB CAR JACKER! HEHEHE

[@J509-b8c]

I just took one. Soooo koo

[@brooklin5868]

Wow🤯

[@sirus312]

wow this looks much safer than tesla!

[@valvevac-systemchecker3773]

It is but it’s also significantly more limiting, again it only work in San Fran. Tesla FSD works for the majority well in like 75%-90% of the US, and exceptionally well in similar areas like San Fran and Vegas. There’s some great FSD videos where people test it out with latest software, really impressive how it’s improving and how users can send out issues in real time to Tesla to sort out

[@sippinteainyohooddd]

Teslas got you in your feelings 😢😂

[@grazz7865]

Waymo is taking on a huge liability gambling on this system to work.

[@GJRobins]

LA has Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles.

[@UsefulInfo-j6f]

hes lucky that car didnt just take off while he was talking after getting out lol

[@ebenezersiaw935]

Oops what if something goes wrong 😅

[@burstreviews8336]

No road rage. No cardiac events. No B.O.

[@grazz7865]

EVERYTHING breaks-especially electronics.

[@rp9674]

Nothing goes wrong w human drivers?

[@aw8079]

This is nothing more than an advertisement.

[@noelpolanco5338]

Love the technology but I have a feeling that humans are going to be classified as dangerous to drive and eventually they will take out the steering wheel and thats not good because I love to drive

[@greenbunnyinabongo7299]

Taxi driver I had tonight released a nasty stench fart like cabbage crossed with sewage. It made me sick in my mouth. So all that will not be a problem with driverless cars in the future 👍

[@grazz7865]

Stay out of White Castle

[@mpirokajosephmgcokoca2355]

Is that your girlfriend in the front sit 🙄

[@UT_Failure2]

Well this is okay but you can’t ride a Tesla without being able to play games or sleep

[@dainguyen784]

good bye uber