Waymo has thrown open the doors to its autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco. As of today, anyone in the City by the Bay can hail a Waymo ride without the need for invite codes or joining a waitlist.
This latest development from Google’s self-driving car spinoff is nothing short of a quantum leap for the autonomous vehicle industry. Waymo’s announcement has sent ripples through the transportation sector, signaling a new era where AI-driven cars are no longer the stuff of sci-fi flicks.
“We’re excited to announce that Waymo One is now open to SF riders — no more waitlist or invite codes!” the company post on blog, practically bursting with pride. They went on to describe this as “a key milestone in our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.” Well, color is impressed!
Before you start planning your Waymo-powered bar crawl, there’s a burning question on everyone’s minds: Will this sudden influx of riders turn wait times into a nightmare?
Waymo got some pretty staggering numbers to back up their decision. Get this: nearly 300k people have signed up for Waymo rides since they first opened their waitlist. That’s more than a quarter of San Francisco’s population!
As Waymo rolls out this service to the masses, it’s clear they’re not just dipping their toes in the water – they’re diving in headfirst. This bold move could revolutionize how San Franciscans get around town, potentially easing traffic congestion and reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.
While Waymo autonomous taxis hitting the streets is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, only time will tell how smoothly this rollout will go. Will the novelty wear off, or will Waymo become as ubiquitous as yellow cabs in New York?