Uber has been operating in Atlanta, USA since June this yearOfficially introduced Waymo driverless fleetLater, a wave of local users emerged in order to take these self-driving taxis.The phenomenon of "collective elimination of human drivers"Some technology enthusiasts even admitted that they would rather spend nearly an hour canceling their order just to wait for a Waymo driverless car.
Atlanta resident Nate Galesic shared his experience: he clearly chose to prefer self-driving vehicles in the Uber app, but was repeatedly matched with human drivers. In the end, he had to keep clicking cancel, and it took him an hour to wait for a Waymo driverless car.
Nate Galesic further stated that the "car selection" process has become like a game. He estimated that on average, they have to reject about 20 human drivers before they have the chance to be paired with a Waymo.
A fan of self-driving cars, with over 35 rides
Nate Galesic has ridden in Waymo over 6 times since the end of June, and almost every time he's had to go through the same "screening" process. He noted that hailing a Waymo self-driving car via Uber in Atlanta is more difficult and challenging than booking one directly using the Waymo One app in Phoenix or San Francisco.
Another resident, Andrew Nerney, shared that he has to walk two blocks from his home to access the Waymo service area planned by Uber in his area. Although he also had to repeatedly cancel the human driver, he has successfully taken five Waymo rides. He also found that these trips were mostly shorter than four miles, cost less than $5, and almost exclusively on urban roads, not highways.
Both emphasized that self-driving cars aren't just a technological novelty; they offer practical convenience. For Nate Galesic, exhausted after a long filming session, the ability to rest peacefully in the car, even falling asleep, was his most anticipated experience.
Waymo's fleet is expanding, while Uber is striving to expand its autonomous driving capabilities.
Uber has already deployed dozens of Waymo vehicles in Atlanta, with plans to expand to "hundreds" in the coming years. In Austin, where the partnership began in March, Uber has already deployed approximately 3 Waymo vehicles.
Uber recommends that passengers who want to increase their chances of riding in a self-driving car avoid booking a ride during high-demand times, choose urban routes, and ensure that their starting and ending points are within the 65-square-mile service area. Waymo said it chose to partner with Uber in Atlanta rather than launch its own app to reach more potential passengers faster.
Doubts remain behind the craze
However, not everyone is eager to get in a self-driving car.
According to a survey conducted last year by consulting firm Arthur D. Little, most American respondents remain skeptical about fully or partially autonomous vehicles, with some even stating they "would not consider using" them, a margin of 17%. This is due to several recent fatal accidents involving self-driving cars, which have left many with reservations about the safety of such technology.
However, the survey also shows that respondents living in large cities with a population of over one million are significantly more receptive to driverless vehicles. This also means that self-driving cars have a better chance of becoming popular in metropolitan areas first, gradually cultivating public trust.
Nate Galesic even compared this trend to the development of smartphones. He believes that just as it took years for the iPhone to become mainstream after its release, the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles will also take time. "New technologies don't achieve mass adoption overnight; they require a long gestational process."
