Waymo and Uber Collaborate on Robotaxis in Phoenix

Artificial IntelligenceHigh Tech / High Touch
Written By Jennifer Joslyn

Waymo and Uber have announced a partnership in the Phoenix area to leverage self-driving cars for passenger transportation and food delivery. This collaboration represents a significant milestone following years of contentious legal battles between the two companies regarding self-driving technology. Since 2020, Waymo has been operating its robotaxi service in Phoenix, while Uber continues to rely on human drivers for its ridesharing service. By joining forces, Waymo can expand its autonomous service while simultaneously competing with Uber for passenger demand.

The partnership entails Waymo offering its driverless vehicles to Uber in Phoenix, a decision made after Uber settled a lawsuit in 2018 by paying Waymo $245 million over allegations of stolen self-driving car technology. The objective of this collaboration is to dispatch Waymo's autonomous vehicles via the Uber app to pick up passengers and make food deliveries later this year. The precise number of robotaxis involved in this venture has not been disclosed.

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Jennifer Joslyn
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