My First Ride with Waymo
As someone who travels frequently, platforms like Uber and Lyft have become second nature to me. Especially in cities like San Francisco, they’re faster, easier, and more accessible than traditional taxis.
But this time, I tried something different—Waymo, a fully driverless Robotaxi.
At first, I hesitated. I was with my son.
Could I really trust a car with no human driver?
The Driver Wasn’t Human—It Was Code
As we stepped into the Waymo, one question kept circling in my head:
“Could this actually be safer than a human driver?”
And the more I thought about it, the clearer it became.
Humans are prone to distraction. We talk on the phone while driving. We glance at texts, switch songs, get lost in thought. Even when we’re behind the wheel, our minds often drift somewhere else.
But interestingly, we don’t teach AI to behave that way. We don’t program it to be distracted, forgetful, or emotionally inconsistent, because we know those traits are dangerous, especially when driving.
Who Wins in Focus?
AI doesn’t check its phone. It doesn’t get tired, bored, or upset. It just does what it’s designed to do —drive.
If I had to choose between a driver tapping on their phone at every red light or an AI laser-focused on the road,
I’d pick the robot.
And now that I’ve experienced Waymo firsthand, I genuinely believe AI might be the safer option. It’s not perfect. But neither are we.
Sharing the Moment with My Son
This photo of me and my son inside Waymo isn’t just a snapshot. It’s a memory of the day I experienced what the future feels like—calm, steady, and strangely comforting.
While we smiled in the back seat, a car with no driver quietly took us where we needed to go. No drama. No distractions. Just a smooth ride and a glimpse into what’s possible.
The Future Is Already Here
Many people are still hesitant to trust AI. I understand. But what I felt that day wasn’t fear, it was curiosity and hope.
If anything, AI like Waymo reminds me that we, as humans, know our own weaknesses well enough to build tools that can protect us from them.
So what about you?
Would you rather trust your ride to a person or a perfectly focused machine?
— TK
