TechCrunch Mobility: Waymo makes its defense

The article from TechCrunch Mobility centers on Waymo’s recent defense regarding its use of remote assistance workers in its autonomous vehicle operations. During a congressional hearing, Waymo’s chief safety officer Mauricio Peña revealed that some remote guidance workers assisting Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are based overseas, specifically in the Philippines. This disclosure drew criticism from Senator Ed Markey, who questioned the reliance on workers without U.S. driver’s licenses to support vehicles operating on U.S. roads. In response, Waymo clarified through a blog post and a letter to Markey’s office that these remote assistance agents do not remotely drive the vehicles but only respond to specific requests from the autonomous system. More complex tasks, such as collision response and law enforcement interaction, are handled by U.S.-based Event Response Teams (ERTs). Waymo currently employs about 70 remote assistance agents worldwide, including locations in Arizona, Michigan, and the Philippines, supporting a fleet of 3,000 vehicles that collectively drive over 4 million