Waymo expands driverless robotaxi service in San Francisco as riders swap Uber for autonomous rides

Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary that bills itself as the world’s first autonomous ride‑hailing service, has opened its driverless robotaxi fleet to the public on the streets of San Francisco. The service uses Jaguar I‑Pace electric SUVs equipped with extensive sensor suites to navigate the city without a human driver.

A traveler who tested the Waymo app after arriving in San Francisco describes the experience as seamless: the app provides estimated arrival times and fares, the vehicle starts automatically once passengers are buckled, and there’s no driver interaction or need to tip. Compared with a prior Uber ride, the autonomous trip eliminates small‑talk and offers a quieter cabin. The author, writing from a Las Vegas hotel after trips to San Francisco and Los Angeles, notes that Waymo’s service is now a viable alternative to traditional ride‑hailing in the Bay Area.