U.S. senators have raised tough questions to Waymo regarding its use of human operators in the Philippines, casting doubt on whether Waymo’s vehicles are truly fully autonomous. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google and a prominent name in the self-driving car industry, claims its vehicles can operate without any human intervention. However, recent inquiries have challenged this assertion. The deployment of human operators in the Philippines to monitor and control the vehicles indicates that Waymo’s autonomous driving technology is not yet completely independent. The senators sought to determine the level of autonomy in Waymo’s cars and whether the company’s marketing claims are accurate. This situation has sparked important discussions about transparency and consumer protection in the autonomous vehicle sector. Autonomous vehicles are considered a key part of future transportation, with various technology firms and automakers investing heavily in research and development worldwide. Although Waymo has made significant progress in autonomous driving, the continued need for human intervention remains a concern for both consumers and regulators. Moving forward, Waymo may need to clarify its technological capabilities and claims to restore confidence among users and regulatory bodies. Additionally, there is a growing call for stricter regulations and safety standards to ensure the secure and effective use of autonomous vehicle technology.
Source: decrypt
