Waymo Reveals Remote Workers In Philippines Sometimes Advise Its Driverless Cars

Source: Slashdot

Hearing Overview

Waymo surprised U.S. lawmakers during a Senate hearing on autonomous vehicles and their safety and oversight.

Sen. Ed Markey (D‑MA) asked what happens when a Waymo vehicle encounters a driving situation it cannot resolve on its own. He noted that the vehicle “phones a human friend for help,” communicating with a remote assistance operator. Markey criticized the lack of public information about these workers, despite their role in vehicle safety.

Waymo’s Explanation

Dr. Mauricio Peña, chief safety officer at Waymo, clarified the operators’ role:

“They provide guidance, they do not remotely drive the vehicles. Waymo asks for guidance in certain situations and gets input, but Waymo is always in charge of the dynamic driving task.”

When pressed about the operators’ locations, Peña said some are based in the United States and others abroad, confirming that overseas operators are located in the Philippines.

Lawmakers’ Concerns

Markey raised several issues:

• Security: “Having people overseas influencing American vehicles is a safety issue… The information the operators receive could be out of date. It could introduce tremendous cyber‑security vulnerabilities.”
• Labor: He highlighted job displacement, noting that autonomous vehicles already affect taxi and rideshare drivers in the U.S.

Waymo’s Defense

Waymo defended the practice to both People and Newsweek:

• The remote workers are licensed drivers who have been screened for driving‑related convictions and other traffic violations.
• They are also randomly screened for drug use.
• The use of overseas staff is presented as part of a broader effort to scale operations globally.

Thanks to Slashdot reader sinij for sharing the news.