# Waymo
Latest news and articles about Waymo
Total: 8 articles found
Driverless, With Help: Waymo Pays Delivery Couriers to Close Car Doors in Atlanta
Waymo has begun paying DoorDash couriers in Atlanta to close car doors when passengers leave them ajar, a pragmatic fix for an operational snag that prevents autonomous vehicles from resuming service. The pilot highlights the persistent need for human intervention in advanced automation and raises questions about liability, labor and the pace of engineering solutions.
China’s AI Surge Meets Autonomy’s Commercial Moment — Fund Managers and Waymo Pivot to a New Phase of Scale
Rapid generational gains in Chinese AI models and compute infrastructure, paired with Waymo’s adoption of a China‑made chassis for its new Ojai taxi, underscore 2026 as an inflection point for AI and autonomous vehicle commercialisation. Index funds such as Tianhong’s CSI AI thematic product are positioning to capture demand across optics, chips, servers and applications, though deployment risks and regulatory hurdles remain.
From Chatbots to Rockets: How Eight Private Giants Are Rewriting the Rules of Global Tech Infrastructure
A small set of private companies now commands valuations normally associated with public tech giants, and their worth derives less from single products than from durable infrastructure — compute and model stacks, satellite and launch networks, payment rails, logistics and urban transport systems. The recent SpaceX–xAI deal and Waymo’s funding round illustrate a market reappraising which startups are foundational, reshaping commercial competition and regulatory priorities globally.
Google Doubles Down on AI Compute: $175–185bn CapEx, Gemini Adoption, and a Cloud Surge
Alphabet reported strong 2025 results and announced a dramatic increase in 2026 capital expenditure — $175–185 billion — to scale AI compute and data‑centre capacity. Gemini 3 adoption, a 48% jump in cloud revenue, and falling model service costs underpin management’s argument that the spending is necessary to meet surging AI demand.
China Pushes EVs and Rural Consumption While Tightening Auto Data Controls — What It Means for Global Auto Markets
China’s central government has made rural consumption and NEV adoption a policy priority while issuing stricter rules on automotive data leaving the country. Complementary municipal support in Shanghai and robust private financing in autonomy and supply-chain contracts signal expanding demand and deepening domestic capabilities, even as data governance raises compliance costs for foreign firms.
Waymo’s $16bn Windfall: A Record Bet on Robotaxis That Comes with Regulatory Risk
Waymo has secured a record $16 billion financing round valuing the company at about $126 billion, signalling investor confidence in robotaxis. The deal accelerates global expansion plans but arrives amid safety incidents and federal probes that underscore regulatory and operational risks.
Cathie Wood Says Tesla’s Robotaxi Edge Is Its Low Cost — But Big Hurdles Remain
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest estimates Tesla could undercut autonomous rivals on cost by at least 50%, relying on vertical integration and high fleet utilisation. The claim highlights Tesla’s disruptive potential in Robotaxi economics but runs into technical, regulatory and competitive headwinds that make the outcome uncertain.
Musk’s $0.20-a‑Mile Robotaxi: Tesla’s Cybercab Stakes a Claim to Crush Ride‑Hailing Costs
Elon Musk has announced that Tesla’s Cybercab robotaxi could operate for as little as $0.20 per mile — about half the projected cost of Waymo’s next‑gen vehicles and far below current ride‑hailing and private‑car costs. The target rests on energy efficiency gains, an ‘unboxed’ manufacturing approach that trims parts, and the elimination of driver labour, but faces production, regulatory and safety hurdles before it can reshape urban mobility.