Over mid-winter break, I found myself traversing the steep hills of SF with the help of a friendly “face”: Waymo. Sliding into the passenger seat of these cars is eerie at first, especially if you’re expecting to greet a human driver. Many people are hesitant  to rely on invisible AI technology to drive them around safely, and I’ll admit that there were a few moments I doubted the abilities of my newfound friend. At some point, Waymo stopped at a green light and I said,“Waymo what are you doing?” However, I then realized that the cars ahead of us were backed up, and if Waymo had kept going, it would have been stuck in the intersection. It was crazy to me that this robot managed to see what I couldn’t.

 By the end of my trip, I’ll admit I had developed a slight attachment to Waymo. It had kept me safe and comfortable, and it was a better driver than even some of my friends. Its camera technology was just as good, if not better, at seeing pedestrians jaywalking, even at night. The only moments of unease were perhaps when our Waymo was behind another Waymo, and there was another to our left, and across the intersection there were two other Waymos. It felt like a scene in some sci-fi movie where robots gradually take over the planet. That aside, I would highly recommend taking a Waymo next time you need a ride, especially if you’re an introvert. 

Look out for Waymo near you; the cars have already been seen mapping out the streets of Bellevue, and they’re poised to soon be fully available in the Seattle area.