Waymo passenger nearly misses his flight after car drives in circles | CNN Business

CNN - Jan 7th, 2025
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Mike Johns, a Los Angeles tech entrepreneur, experienced a peculiar incident with a Waymo self-driving taxi while en route to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. The vehicle, operated by Waymo, a division of Alphabet, Google's parent company, began circling around a parking lot, causing a five-minute delay. Despite managing to catch his flight, Johns was left feeling dizzy and frustrated by the autonomous vehicle's performance. A video posted by Johns on LinkedIn captured the incident, and a Waymo representative, alerted by a system notification, contacted him during the ride. The employee instructed Johns to use the app to address the issue as they attempted to pull the car over, highlighting challenges in remote intervention for driverless cars.

This incident is not isolated, as Waymo has faced criticism for various technical issues, including a recall in June 2024 to address vehicles driving into poles and previous instances of confusion caused by environmental factors. These events underscore ongoing challenges in the autonomous vehicle industry, raising questions about safety and reliability. Johns, an AI consultant, chose Waymo for its innovative technology, reflecting broader industry trends toward automation. Despite the mishap, he remains open to future use of the service. Waymo assured that a regular software update followed the incident, indicating ongoing efforts to improve system performance.

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RATING

5.6
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an intriguing account of a tech entrepreneur's experiences with a Waymo self-driving taxi, capturing both the promise and current challenges of autonomous vehicle technology. While it effectively conveys the central story and includes some relevant background on Waymo's past incidents, it lacks depth in terms of factual backing and the inclusion of diverse perspectives. The article could benefit from more robust sourcing and greater transparency regarding the complexities of self-driving technology. Its clarity and engaging narrative are strong points, but a more balanced view of the issues surrounding autonomous vehicles would enhance its overall impact.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article presents a seemingly accurate depiction of the incident involving Mike Johns and the Waymo self-driving taxi. The details of the event, such as the car circling a parking lot and the Waymo representative's response, are specific and plausible. However, the article could be improved with more verifiable details, such as direct quotes from official statements from Waymo or corroboration from other passengers or witnesses. The reference to Waymo's past recalls and incidents adds some context, but the article lacks citations or links to these events, reducing its factual robustness. Moreover, the mention of a June 2024 recall is temporally inconsistent, potentially indicating a typographical error or speculative reporting. Overall, while the narrative seems credible, the article would benefit from additional supporting data or quotes from authoritative sources.

5
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the perspective of Mike Johns, the tech entrepreneur, and his experience with the Waymo taxi. While his viewpoint is well-articulated, the article lacks a balanced representation of other perspectives, such as comments from Waymo or insights from transportation experts. The article briefly mentions Waymo's email to CNN, but it does not provide a comprehensive view of the company's side or the technological challenges they face. Additionally, the article could explore the broader implications of autonomous vehicle technology on public safety and urban mobility, providing a more nuanced discussion. The article's focus on past incidents involving Waymo, without delving into the company's efforts to address these issues, creates a sense of bias against the technology. A more balanced approach would include both the potential benefits and ongoing challenges of self-driving cars.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a coherent narrative of the incident involving Mike Johns and the Waymo taxi. The language is straightforward, and the sequence of events is easy to follow, from the initial loops to the eventual resolution. The tone remains neutral and professional, avoiding emotive language or sensationalism. The article effectively conveys the sense of frustration Johns experienced and provides a vivid account of the situation. However, the article could improve its clarity by avoiding potentially confusing elements, such as the incorrect reference to a future date (June 2024) for a past event. Despite this, the article succeeds in maintaining reader engagement through its concise and accessible presentation of the story.

4
Source quality

The article lacks direct citations or references to authoritative sources, which diminishes the credibility of its claims. It mentions Mike Johns' statements and a Waymo email to CNN but does not provide direct quotes or links to these communications. Furthermore, the article references past incidents with Waymo vehicles without citing specific reports, studies, or expert opinions, relying instead on anecdotal evidence. The absence of diverse and reliable sources, such as transportation experts or regulatory agencies, weakens the article's foundation. To enhance source quality, the article should incorporate data or reports from credible organizations, as well as direct quotes from involved parties, to substantiate its claims and provide depth to the narrative.

5
Transparency

The article provides some context regarding the incident and Waymo's response but lacks full transparency in several areas. It mentions that Waymo attempted to contact Mike Johns after the incident, yet it does not elaborate on the nature of their follow-up or any resolutions offered. Additionally, the article briefly touches on Waymo's past issues but does not disclose potential reasons for these problems or the company's strategies for improvement. The article could benefit from a clearer explanation of the technology behind self-driving cars and the inherent challenges they face. Furthermore, disclosing any affiliations or biases of the author or publication, as well as the limitations of the reporting, would enhance transparency and reader trust.