Waymo traps AI tech entrepreneur inside. Turns circles at airport in display of dominance

[Wilmer Digreux]

A Waymo rider said he missed his flight in Scottsdale, Ariz., after the autonomous car wouldn’t stop driving in circles. (Waymo)


A Los Angeles man said he recently missed his flight home after getting trapped on his way to the airport in a Waymo that wouldn't stop making circles in a parking lot.

L.A. tech entrepreneur Mike Johns posted a video three weeks ago on LinkedIn of his call to a customer service representative for Waymo to report that the car kept turning in circles and that he was nervous about missing his flight.
"I got a flight to catch. Why is this thing going in a circle? I'm getting dizzy," Johns said. "It's circling around a parking lot. I got my seat belt on. I can't get out of the car. Has this been hacked? What's going on? I feel like I'm in the movies. Is somebody playing a joke on me?"

The customer service representative told Johns to open his Waymo app and that she would try to pull the car over, but seemed to struggle with getting the vehicle to stop. Johns was returning home from Scottsdale, Ariz., according to a CBS report, which also noted that Johns "nearly" missed his flight.


On his social media post, Johns, who also works on AI initiatives, according to his LinkedIn profile, said Waymo had not followed up with him after the experience.
"You'd think by now Waymo would email, text or call for a follow-up," he wrote. "Nope, customer service is automated and ran by AI."
Waymo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


The autonomous car company has been common on San Francisco streets for years, and recently opened its services to all riders after first rolling out a pilot program to select users. The robotaxis launched in L.A. last fall. Waymo's goal is to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities through autonomous driving technology, and riders and proponents of the service have lauded it as a safe and easy alternative to human drivers.

But there have also been tech glitches and safety concerns during the company's rollout of its robotaxis in several cities.
A man in downtown L.A. on Thursday allegedly attempted to hijack a Waymo and drive away. Police took the man into custody after they eventually got him out of the car.

There have also been reports of riders experiencing harassment by pedestrians who block the car's path and stall the vehicle.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/los-angeles-man-trapped-circling-174520267.html

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[Wilmer Digreux]

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

A Waymo rider said he missed his flight in Scottsdale, Ariz., after the autonomous car wouldn’t stop driving in circles. (Waymo)


A Los Angeles man said he recently missed his flight home after getting trapped on his way to the airport in a Waymo that wouldn't stop making circles in a parking lot.

L.A. tech entrepreneur Mike Johns posted a video three weeks ago on LinkedIn of his call to a customer service representative for Waymo to report that the car kept turning in circles and that he was nervous about missing his flight.
"I got a flight to catch. Why is this thing going in a circle? I'm getting dizzy," Johns said. "It's circling around a parking lot. I got my seat belt on. I can't get out of the car. Has this been hacked? What's going on? I feel like I'm in the movies. Is somebody playing a joke on me?"

The customer service representative told Johns to open his Waymo app and that she would try to pull the car over, but seemed to struggle with getting the vehicle to stop. Johns was returning home from Scottsdale, Ariz., according to a CBS report, which also noted that Johns "nearly" missed his flight.


On his social media post, Johns, who also works on AI initiatives, according to his LinkedIn profile, said Waymo had not followed up with him after the experience.
"You'd think by now Waymo would email, text or call for a follow-up," he wrote. "Nope, customer service is automated and ran by AI."
Waymo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


The autonomous car company has been common on San Francisco streets for years, and recently opened its services to all riders after first rolling out a pilot program to select users. The robotaxis launched in L.A. last fall. Waymo's goal is to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities through autonomous driving technology, and riders and proponents of the service have lauded it as a safe and easy alternative to human drivers.

But there have also been tech glitches and safety concerns during the company's rollout of its robotaxis in several cities.
A man in downtown L.A. on Thursday allegedly attempted to hijack a Waymo and drive away. Police took the man into custody after they eventually got him out of the car.

There have also been reports of riders experiencing harassment by pedestrians who block the car's path and stall the vehicle.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/los-angeles-man-trapped-circling-174520267.html

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A classic case of life intimating art. This was in Silicon Valley 10 years ago

 

[TeTe]

So I took one of those when I was in Scottsdale in November. I got close to my hotel and the waymo kept driving around the block and wouldn't stop at the hotel. There was a driveway that led to the front entrance that was blocked off by gates. Every time it would try to turn into the driveway it saw the obstacle stop and then keep going.

After it failed to turn twice I knew this fucking thing would keep doing it so when we got close to the front of the hotel I went into the touchscreen in the back seat and pushed "end ride". It pulled over at the next intersection and got out and I walked through the parking lot to the hotel.

It was that simple. Yes, a bit annoying cause I rode around the block a couple times and had to walk a block. But I don't see what happened with this guy where he couldn't simply press "end ride."

 

[Zer]

One thing you see from time to time in the whole Ukraine war thing is there'll be tanks doing endless circles in the middle of a field or something, except it's because the crew is all dead

 

[Wilmer Digreux]

One thing you see from time to time in the whole Ukraine war thing is there'll be tanks doing endless circles in the middle of a field or something, except it's because the crew is all dead

 

[chardog]

So I took one of those when I was in Scottsdale in November. I got close to my hotel and the waymo kept driving around the block and wouldn't stop at the hotel. There was a driveway that led to the front entrance that was blocked off by gates. Every time it would try to turn into the driveway it saw the obstacle stop and then keep going.

After it failed to turn twice I knew this fucking thing would keep doing it so when we got close to the front of the hotel I went into the touchscreen in the back seat and pushed "end ride". It pulled over at the next intersection and got out and I walked through the parking lot to the hotel.

It was that simple. Yes, a bit annoying cause I rode around the block a couple times and had to walk a block. But I don't see what happened with this guy where he couldn't simply press "end ride."

If at LAX, and you miss your drop, the rotation to get back around would put you in jeopardy of missing a flight. Sometimes it can take half an hour or more to go through that circle, better to end ASAP. Possible the guy doesn’t have enough experience with either the car and/or airport.

The toughest thing for self driving cars to do is to final part and park/drop off in a safe area. The logistics are tougher than driving itself. The route of the final spot is not built into mapping software, and even arrivals/departures can be tricky since the location is the same from a Birds Eye, but different levels, and you can not freehand choose the precise location. On top of that, the parking/driving lines don’t always make sense, solid white = no pass, but you sort of have to. Parked at an angle is not ok, except for drops, it might be acceptable. Who has the right of way in the slow speed scenario? The more aggressive driver….. That final finish for automated cars can trip up these automation systems

 

[Natural Order]

Self driving cars are for pussies!

 

[wlu.29]

Probably just a linkedin lunatic looking for clout

 

[NoSmilez]

 

[Jack Reacheround]

I think it is definitely premature to have these things on the road. And I know there are problems with recognition of certain objects, like a full moon, that can cause catastrophic errors. But I hope they get that shit ironed out. Not having to drive everywhere, and just having the car do it for you, would be great.

 

[Speedy1]

A classic case of life intimating art. This was in Silicon Valley 10 years ago

Didn’t he find that bottle of adderall in his pocket and go nuts?