San Francisco woman gives birth in a Waymo self-driving taxi

In a surprising turn of events, a San Francisco woman gave birth inside a Waymo self-driving taxi while en route to a hospital, the company confirmed Wednesday. The incident occurred Monday as the autonomous vehicle was transporting the expectant mother to the University of California, San Francisco medical center.

According to a statement from Waymo, the company’s rider support team detected “unusual activity” inside the vehicle and promptly contacted the passenger to check on her welfare while simultaneously alerting emergency services. The company, owned by Google’s parent Alphabet Inc., declined to provide specific details about how its systems identified the situation, though it’s known that Waymo vehicles are equipped with both interior and exterior cameras and microphones.

The robotaxi successfully completed its journey to the hospital before emergency responders arrived. UCSF spokesperson Jess Berthold confirmed that the mother and newborn were admitted to the medical center but noted the mother was unavailable for comment on her unique delivery experience.

Following the incident, Waymo removed the vehicle from service for thorough cleaning. The company also revealed this wasn’t the first birth to occur in one of its autonomous taxis, though such events remain extremely rare.

“We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young,” Waymo stated in its release.

This positive news story offers a welcome contrast to recent negative publicity surrounding Waymo’s autonomous fleet in San Francisco. The company’s self-driving taxis have become increasingly visible on city streets, operating throughout San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, but not without controversy.

In September, one of Waymo’s vehicles made headlines after performing an illegal U-turn in front of a no U-turn sign in San Bruno. The incident sparked public criticism when police could not issue a citation since state regulations don’t address how to ticket vehicles without human drivers. The legal framework for autonomous vehicle violations remains underdeveloped despite the growing presence of self-driving cars on California roads.

More significantly, Waymo faced substantial backlash in October after one of its vehicles struck and killed a beloved neighborhood cat named Kit Kat in San Francisco’s Mission District. The feline’s death generated considerable outrage on social media, with residents questioning the safety protocols of autonomous vehicles in recognizing and avoiding small animals.

These incidents highlight the complex relationship between emerging autonomous transportation technologies and urban communities. While self-driving taxis offer innovative transportation solutions, their integration into existing city infrastructure and social dynamics continues to present challenges.

The birth in a Waymo taxi represents the unpredictable nature of autonomous vehicle deployment – these systems must be prepared for virtually any human situation, from medical emergencies to routine transportation needs. It also demonstrates how the technology’s sensors and monitoring capabilities can potentially serve beneficial purposes beyond basic navigation.

As autonomous vehicles become more commonplace in major metropolitan areas, both their capabilities and limitations will continue to be tested in real-world scenarios. The San Francisco birth incident showcases how this technology intersects with human life in unexpected and occasionally remarkable ways.