In a recent incident in Scottsdale, Arizona, Mike Johns, a Los Angeles-based AI expert, encountered a significant technical failure while utilising a driverless Waymo vehicle, which nearly resulted in him missing his flight. Johns, who identifies as a "futurist" focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and human-robot interactions, shared his experience via social media, highlighting the unexpected challenges of automated transport technologies.
According to a video posted on LinkedIn, Johns detailed a disconcerting episode where his autonomous taxi cab spiralled uncontrollably in circles rather than proceeding to the airport. He remarked, “My Monday was fine till I got into one of Waymo’s ‘humanless’ cars. This autonomous vehicle said to heck with GPS, the car just went around in circles, eight circles at that.” Despite his efforts to alert customer service while the vehicle remained in motion, he felt trapped and dizzy as he questioned the car's functionality, stating, “I can’t get out of the car. Has this been hacked? What’s going on?”
The ordeal lasted several tense minutes before a representative from Waymo was finally able to intervene and direct the vehicle to stabilize, which allowed him to reach the airport just in time. However, Johns expressed ambiguities over the nature of the assistance he received, unsure whether he was communicating with a human or an AI. He expressed his frustration: “Where’s the empathy? Where’s the human connection to this?”
Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., operates in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix-Scottsdale, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The efficacy and safety of such autonomous transport systems have sparked considerable debate. Reports suggest that passengers have raised concerns, particularly women, about harassment and safety issues during their rides.
One incident highlighted this concern when a female passenger, identified as Amina, encountered two men obstructing her Waymo vehicle in San Francisco, demanding her phone number while the driverless car failed to navigate around them. Amina depicted her fear during the episode, stating, “I love Waymo but this was scary. 2 men stopped in front of my car and demanded that I give my number. It left me stuck as the car was stalled in the street.” She urged caution for other women, showcasing the potential vulnerabilities that accompany relying on autonomous rides.
This incident underlines the growing discussions surrounding the future of AI automation in the transportation sector and its implications for user experience and safety. The mixed public reception to such technologies raises questions regarding the balance between innovation and the immediate needs for consumer support in critical situations.
Source: Noah Wire Services