Entrepreneur gets stuck in runaway self-driving taxi and nearly misses flight (Linkedin – Mike Johns)
Technology entrepreneur from Los Angeles, Mike Johns, experienced an unusual situation when he got stuck in a Waymo self-driving taxi that was driving in circles, almost causing him to miss his flight.
As the vehicle was driving in circles in a parking lot, he attempted to reach out to the company’s support, questioning if the car had been hacked. After several minutes, the support representative was able to stop the vehicle remotely, allowing him to make it to the airport on time.
Johns shared the incident in a LinkedIn video, describing the situation as something out of a science fiction movie.
Waymo, which manufactures self-driving vehicles using advanced sensors and software, stated that the issue caused a delay of about five minutes and that Johns was not charged for the ride. However, Johns complained that the company did not follow up after the incident, criticizing the automated customer support and the lack of empathy in the service. He also emphasized the need for a more balanced approach between technology and human connection in customer service.
Although Johns works with artificial intelligence and wishes success for companies like Waymo, he stated that he does not plan on using another self-driving vehicle anytime soon. For him, this episode symbolizes the challenges of technological products that are not yet fully perfected and the disconnection between companies and consumers.
Source: New York Post | Photo: Linkedin – Mike Johns | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
