Waymo Robotaxis Have No Human Drivers, Only Support

Waymo has reiterated that its autonomous vehicles are not controlled by remote human drivers. Instead, remote assistants (RAs) are available to offer support and advice when prompted by the car's autonomous driving system (ADS). These RAs do not take direct control, steer, or drive the vehicle.

Approximately 70 RAs are on duty at any given time, with half located in Arizona and Michigan, and the other half in two cities within the Philippines. These operators respond only to specific, trained requests for assistance. The ADS initiates contact for more context in ambiguous situations, but maintains control and decision-making throughout the brief exchange, which lasts only seconds.

While the ADS handles most driving autonomously, RAs possess a limited function to nudge vehicles that stop on a highway shoulder, for instance, prompting a slow movement to exit the travel lane. This capability has been exclusively used for training purposes. In a separate operational note, Waymo cars cannot depart if a door is left ajar, requiring human intervention to close them.