US government documents reveal how humans are ‘critical’ for Google’s Waymo and Elon Musk’s Tesla robotaxis to function properly

Companies that provide self-driving vehicle services have often promoted them as operating without human intervention. As per to newly released government files, Google’s Waymo and Elon Musk’s Tesla are still relying on human support systems in order to keep their robot taxi services safe on public roads.

According to a report by Wired, filings submitted this month by Alphabet subsidiary Waymo and electric vehicle maker Tesla provide additional insight into the companies’ “remote assistance” programmes, outlining how trained personnel step in when autonomous driving systems encounter situations they cannot independently resolve. The disclosures offer a clearer view of the human involvement behind technologies frequently described as fully automated.