Posted on 02/05/2026 8:25:20 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
Waymo‘s Chief Safety Officer disclosed Wednesday that some of the remote operators who assist its self-driving vehicles in navigating difficult scenarios are based in the Philippines.
Mauricio Peña, the company’s Chief Safety Officer, confirmed under questioning that the Alphabet subsidiary employs human operators abroad to provide guidance to its robotaxis when they encounter challenging driving situations. Ad ends in 5
Peña noted that the vehicles remain in control of all driving tasks at all times.
“They provide guidance. They do not remotely drive the vehicles,” Peña told the Senate committee. “The Waymo vehicle is always in charge of the dynamic driving tasks, so that is just one additional input.”
When pressed on how many operators are located outside the United States, Peña said he did not have the breakdown available, escalating frustration from senators.
“It just seems kind of curious that you don’t know that answer,” one senator responded, before asking in which countries the operators are located.
“The Philippines,” Peña replied.
The disclosure drew immediate pushback from lawmakers, who raised concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, outdated information relays, and the qualifications of overseas operators.
“Having people overseas influencing American vehicles is a safety issue,” the senator said. “The information the operators receive could be out of date. It could introduce tremendous cybersecurity vulnerabilities. We don’t know if these people have US driver’s licenses.”
The senator also criticized the labor implications, noting that Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are already displacing taxi and rideshare drivers in the United States.
“It’s one thing when a taxi is replaced by an Uber or a Lyft. It’s another thing when the jobs just go completely overseas,” the senator added.
(Excerpt) Read more at eletric-vehicles.com ...
“So an unlicensed driver is driving a vehicle in the U.S. remotely?”
Nope
“Tesla is much more dependent on secret drivers”
The “secret” drivers are sitting in the car. Not a big secret.
Speaking of off-shoring, I don't think buyers are ready to learn that their sex robot is actually being controlled by some dude in India or the Philippines.
OK grandpa, how about reading the article first?
Real world data show ADS much safer than human drivers. And ADS is getting better everyday.
In the video, the Chief Safety Officer admits that overseas drivers are driving these vehicles. Those drivers do not have U.S. driver’s licenses.
So an Asian woman could be my driver? 🤯
“In the video, the Chief Safety Officer admits that overseas drivers are driving these vehicles. “
Please give me a quote and a timestamp.
In the article he specifically says that they are NOT driving the cars.
From watching the YouTube videos, just be glad it’s not Russians.
Okay child, how about reading Post 1 and watching the video at the link?
The Chief Safety Officer of Waymo admitted at the 1:20 mark that the remote drivers ARE taking over the controls.
See Post 1.
Imagine a dedicated follower of Sportsball calling anyone a simp. The irony.
And in the video link in Post 1, the Chief Safety Officer of Waymo admits that Automated Driving Systems (ADS) are not automated.
Semi-Automated Driving Systems (SADS)?
Sometimes Not Automated Driving Systems (SNADS)?
In America, Filipinos drive our remote taxes, and Pakistanis and Nigerians drive our legacy, old ones
Musk is going to have a field day with this revelation!
“Tesla is much more dependent on secret drivers,”
Are you sure about that?
“See Post 1.”
GEEZ! Are you dense or deliberately misleading?
I went to #1.
I went to 1:20 of the video. Nowhere does he admit that that overseas drivers are driving!
AND, AT 0:15 HE SAY THAT THE VEHICLES ARE NOT DRIVEN BY OVERSEAS DRIVERS.
Interesting thought there, TB. Maybe they’ve even made a remote driving game and the kids don’t even KNOW they are controlling real cars!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.