Last month, Mike Johns, a tech entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, encountered an unusual situation while using a Waymo self-driving taxi en route to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. Despite his hopes for a smooth ride, the vehicle became trapped in a repetitive loop, circling a parking lot several times—reportedly up to eight—before he finally reached the airport. Although he managed to catch his flight, Johns expressed frustration and dizziness from the experience.
Sharing a video of the incident on LinkedIn, he recounted feeling as though he was part of a prank as the taxi repeatedly looped through the same area. Waymo acknowledged the routing issue, leading to a five-minute delay, and while the company attempted to assist him through the vehicle’s system, Johns felt somewhat disoriented throughout the ordeal.
This incident isn’t isolated; Waymo has faced past difficulties as well, including recalls and criticisms for erratic driving behaviours, such as vehicles striking poles or misinterpreting road conditions. Johns, who works in artificial intelligence, had chosen Waymo over conventional ride-shares for its innovative approach. Despite his recent experience, he remains open to using the technology again, especially considering Waymo’s follow-up after the incident.