The incident involving the burning of a Waymo self-driving taxi in the midst of a San Francisco street congestion has reignited concerns regarding the safety and security of using autonomous taxi vehicles. The decision by the Waymo self-driving taxi to navigate towards a congested intersection on a Saturday evening, amidst crowds and fireworks, led to some bystanders attacking the vehicle and setting it on fire.
The incident highlighted the limited decision-making capabilities of robotic vehicles and raised fears about increased reliance on them on the streets for various reasons, including safety concerns, potential impact on human driver jobs, and apprehensions about artificial intelligence capabilities.
London Breed, the Mayor of San Francisco, described the Waymo incident as a “serious and destructive act of sabotage” while also lauding the city as a testing ground for the development of self-driving cars.
The burning of the Alphabet-owned Waymo vehicle follows a previous incident where another Waymo vehicle hit a cyclist the week before. Earlier in October 2023, a self-driving car manufactured by GM-owned Cruise hit a pedestrian, resulting in the suspension of Cruise’s driverless testing license in California.
Experts, including South Carolina University’s Bryant Walker Smith, have raised questions about whether self-driving cars should be capable of detecting and avoiding crowded pedestrian areas. The incident has sparked debates on the acceptance and integration of autonomous technology in daily life.
The attack on the Waymo vehicle occurred amidst streets largely vacant of cars as pedestrians gathered for fireworks. Witnesses described the tense situation where the vehicle was surrounded and eventually attacked, leading to a confrontation and damage to the vehicle.
The incident sheds light on growing dissatisfaction towards self-driving vehicles and other AI technologies. Public figures like California Senator Dave Cortese propose legislation to grant local governments more authority to regulate autonomous vehicles, emphasizing the evident technological flaws.
Amidst these incidents, concerns continue to mount regarding the maturity and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology, urging a reevaluation of the industry’s claims of technological advancement and safety.
