Waymo confirms that humans abroad assist its self-driving cars in navigating streets in the U.S.

A senior executive from Waymo informed lawmakers that human assistance is still involved in the operations of the company's self-driving cars, with support from workers based abroad.

This disclosure was made during a Senate Committee hearing on the future of autonomous vehicles, held on February 4. The timing was notable as it followed an incident where a Waymo vehicle hit a child in Santa Monica, California, less than two weeks prior.

Human Assistance Role

Senator Ed Markey posed questions during the hearing about how Waymo vehicles handle situations they cannot resolve independently. Markey highlighted that the vehicles contact a remote assistance operator for guidance when needed.

Waymo's chief safety officer, Dr. Mauricio Peña, confirmed this practice but emphasized that the operators do not remotely drive the vehicles. Peña stated that Waymo remains responsible for the driving task while seeking guidance from the operators.

Worker Locations and Concerns

When asked about the locations of these workers, Peña mentioned that some are in the United States, while others are based in the Philippines. Markey expressed worries about safety, cybersecurity, and labor impacts, emphasizing the potential safety risks of foreign operators influencing American vehicles.

A Waymo spokesperson clarified that the overseas workers, referred to as fleet response agents, do not directly control the vehicles. The company did not disclose the exact breakdown of operators working domestically versus internationally.