A remarkable twist: a woman in San Francisco delivered her baby inside a Waymo self-driving taxi while en route to the University of California medical centre. Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, revealed that their support team noticed “unusual activity” in the vehicle, prompting them to contact the rider and alert emergency services.

 

This unexpected event comes amidst mixed publicity for Waymo, known recently for legal challenges involving traffic violations and a tragic incident with a neighbourhood cat. Despite these issues, the self-driving taxis offer rides across major regions like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and Phoenix. The vehicle involved safely reached the hospital with the passengers before emergency personnel arrived. Jess Berthold, a spokesperson for UCSF, verified that the mother and child were admitted, although the mother was unavailable for comment.

 

While this birth in a Waymo taxi is rare, it’s not the first occurrence of its kind, according to the company. The taxi was removed from service for cleaning following the event. Waymo expressed pride in being part of significant moments for its passengers, boasting a service history that accommodates both the very young and elderly.

 

Waymo's robotaxis are increasingly popular, though they often face scrutiny and criticism. Not long before this joyful event, Waymo faced backlash when a taxi made an illegal U-turn in front of police and another incident involved the death of a beloved local cat. Despite this mixed track record, the company continues to expand its driverless services, reported ABC News.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• A San Francisco woman gave birth in a Waymo self-driving taxi.
• Waymo contacted emergency services after detecting unusual activity.
• Despite challenges, Waymo's taxis are growing in popularity.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from ABC News 2025-12-11

 

 

 

Glad that driver delivered the baby safely, eh!

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The taxi was removed from service for cleaning following the event

Crikey, poor guy who had to clean up that mess