The rise of autonomous vehicles has brought convenience and innovation to transportation, but it has also raised questions about safety and reliability.
While these driverless cars promise a glimpse into the future, unexpected malfunctions remind us of the technology’s limitations. One such incident recently left a passenger in an unusual and frustrating situation.
Mike Johns, an American traveling to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, found himself trapped in a Waymo autonomous taxi when the vehicle began repeatedly looping in a parking lot.
A video of the incident shows Johns on the phone with a company representative, visibly distressed as the car refused to continue its journey, according to Digi24.
“This thing is going in circles. I have a flight to catch, and it’s making me dizzy,” Johns exclaimed in frustration. Speaking to the representative, he asked, “Was this car hacked? What’s happening? I feel like I’m in a sci-fi movie.”
The Waymo representative, attempting to assist remotely, suggested Johns open the mobile app while trying to manually stop the car.
However, the passenger noted he had no control over the vehicle’s movements. After several tense minutes, the situation was resolved, and Johns managed to catch his delayed flight to Southern California.
Waymo later issued a statement explaining that the issue was caused by a software update and assuring the public that the problem had been quickly addressed.
Despite this reassurance, Johns described the experience as unsettling and expressed doubt about whether the representative assisting him was human or artificial intelligence.
Waymo, a pioneer in autonomous transportation, operates in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.
While the company boasts millions of safe rides, incidents like this one, along with others involving collisions and injuries, have fueled skepticism about the technology's readiness for widespread adoption.
