Waymo's Twenty-Dollar Problem: Robotaxis Can't Close Their Own Doors (Yet!)

TL;DR: Waymo's robotaxis have a hilarious, unexpected hiccup: passengers aren't always closing the doors properly. The AI can't fix it, so Waymo's been paying humans $20 a pop via an app like Honk to go shut 'em. Talk about a twenty-dollar solution to a million-dollar problem!

Meta: Waymo is reportedly paying people $20 to manually close robotaxi doors left open by passengers, revealing an unforeseen operational challenge for autonomous fleets.

Alright, alright, settle down folks! You know, when we talk about the future of autonomous vehicles, we're usually picturing sleek cars, advanced AI, and maybe even a world where traffic jams are a distant memory. But sometimes, the future hits a snag, and it's something so simple, so utterly human, you gotta just shake your head and laugh. Turns out, Waymo, one of the big dogs in the robotaxi game, has been facing a rather peculiar problem: passengers forgetting to close the darn doors properly!

That's right, imagine this: an expensive, high-tech robotaxi, sitting there with its door ajar, like a kid who just jumped out of the car. And what can the super-smart AI do about it? Nothing! It can't exactly reach out and slam it shut. So, what's Waymo been doing? They've been shelling out a cool $20 (or more!) to actual humans to go, drive to the car, and just… close the door. They're reportedly using an app called Honk, which is kinda like an Uber for towing companies, to dispatch folks for these incredibly simple tasks. Cesar Marenco, a towing company owner, told The Washington Post he gets about three of these door-closing gigs a week. Man, I gotta get in on that side hustle!

The Human Factor (or Lack Thereof)

This whole situation highlights a fundamental challenge in the autonomous world: the unpredictable human element. As Marenco put it, "There's always going to be human error when someone's riding in a vehicle and there's no one to tell them to close the door or put their seat belt on." It's easy to forget those basic things when there's no driver to give you that last-minute reminder. It's a small hiccup, sure, but it adds up, costing Waymo money and, let's be honest, a little bit of dignity for a high-tech company.

But don't worry, Waymo ain't just gonna keep paying $20 bills to door-closers forever. They've got a fix in the works: self-closing doors for their future robotaxi models. And knowing they're moving towards minivan-like doors on their upcoming Zeekr (or Ojai) models, this makes perfect sense. No more relying on absent-minded passengers; the car will take care of itself. Now, why didn't they think of that sooner? Probably too busy teaching the cars to navigate rush hour traffic to remember basic human courtesy.

Small Problem, Big Lessons

This little door dilemma, while comical, actually speaks to the broader challenges of new technologies. We design for the big problems, the complex algorithms, the safety protocols, but sometimes it's the simplest things that trip us up. Just like social media started with cat videos and ended up with… well, you know. Or AI, which promises to solve everything but also spits out misinformation. The robotaxi door problem isn't the biggest challenge Waymo faces, but it's a stark reminder that even the smartest tech still has to interact with quirky, imperfect humans.

So, as Waymo continues its march towards profitability and expands its autonomous fleets, they're learning these unexpected lessons one open door at a time. It’s not just about getting the car to drive itself; it’s about making the entire experience, from opening to closing the door, truly autonomous and seamless. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll put a little sign inside that says, “Please close door fully. Or we’ll send Eddie to do it for $20.”

What's Next: Look for future Waymo robotaxi models, especially the Zeekr/Ojai vans, to come equipped with self-closing doors, eliminating this twenty-dollar problem. It's a small change, but it's crucial for smooth, driverless operations.

That's the scoop, folks! Who knew door-closing could be a growth industry? I'm out!