Waymo's Robotaxis Can't Close Their Own Doors — So They're Hiring People

The reality that fully self-driving ride-hailing services are now present in U.S. cities, primarily led by Alphabet's Waymo,Amazon's Zoox and Tesla, is likely the best sign of the significant advancements in automotive technology 140 years after the first automobile was sold.

However, despite the progress made in self-driving technology, there is still significant potential for enhancement in certain areas, such as handling challenging weather conditions (particularly rain, snow, and fog), managing unpredictable human actions, like those of erratic pedestrians, or facing unforeseen infrastructure issues, such as construction zones andtraffic lights going dark, among countless other things.

It appears that robotaxis can cease functioning with little effort, as even a small issue like a passenger leaving a door ajar can make them non-functional. This highlights that, despite their advanced nature,Waymo's autonomous taxis still require human interventionoccasionally to work

DoorDash Driver Was Paid $11.25 to Shut a Waymo Door in Atlanta

CNBCreports that Waymo has discovered a rather non-technical approach to this issue, specifically compensating gig workers from businesses such as DoorDash and Honk to assist in closing the doors of their stalled robotaxis.

When a passenger exiting the vehicle leaves a door ajar, the car will not proceed, as theJaguar I-Pace cars that Waymo currently utilizesDo not allow the option to automatically close the doors. Consequently, the vehicle remains stuck until someone manually closes the door. To prevent losses from downtime caused by this problem, Waymo is hiring freelance workers from companies such as DoorDash, a top delivery service for food, groceries, alcohol, and convenience items.

Alphabet stated that it is conducting a trial in Atlanta to pay delivery drivers for closing open Waymo doors. The process involves DoorDash drivers being alerted when a Waymo vehicle in the vicinity has an open door, and they have the option to visit and close it, allowing the vehicle to return to service quickly.

DoorDash contract workers have started sharing on social media, with an Atlanta driver posting a screenshot of the DoorDash app onredditwhich indicated he was paid $11.25 to shut a Waymo door situated 0.7 miles from their location at that moment.

Honk users may earn up to $24 per trip in Los Angeles for closing a door.

In addition to DoorDash, Waymo is also compensating users of Honk, a standalone roadside assistance company, to shut the doors of its autonomous vehicles. According to a recent report fromWashington Post, Users of Honk were offered up to $24 per trip in Los Angeles for closing a door; it's important to mention that Honk users already receive compensation for maintaining Waymo vehicles, such as towing vehicles that have run out of power or handling other small maintenance tasks.

It's understandable that drivers are enthusiastic about this new opportunity for income, even though it remains uncertain how significant the market for this is, meaning how frequently Waymo riders leave the doors open after a self-driving taxi ride.

Waymo and DoorDash told CNBCIn a joint statement, they mentioned that they are continuously seeking new and adaptable methods for DoorDash drivers to make money, even though they noted that upcoming Waymo vehicles will feature automated door closing. The robotaxi service did not specify when this feature will be available, however.

Waymo mainly manages a collection of fully electric vehiclesJaguarI-Pace crossovers are being utilized for the company's commercial autonomous ride-hailing services in U.S. cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. However, the company is moving towards a sixth-generation driver system, which will includemodified Zeekr Ojai minivans and Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUVs.

The Ojai is currently in the testing phase for staff members in cities such as Phoenix and San Francisco, with a wider release to the general public anticipated in 2026.