San Francisco woman gives birth in a Waymo self-driving taxi

In a surprising turn of events, a San Francisco woman gave birth while riding in a Waymo self-driving taxi, marking a remarkable moment for the autonomous vehicle service. The incident occurred on Monday as the mother was en route to the University of California, San Francisco medical center. Waymo's rider support team noticed "unusual activity" inside the vehicle and promptly contacted the passenger to check on her condition, while also alerting emergency services. The company, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., did not disclose the specifics of how the vehicle recognized the situation was critical. Fortunately, both the mother and her newborn arrived safely at the hospital before emergency responders could reach them. Jess Berthold, a spokesperson for UCSF, confirmed that both mother and child were admitted but did not provide further information about the family. In the aftermath of this remarkable ride, Waymo announced that the taxi would be temporarily taken out of service for cleaning. This incident is not entirely unprecedented, as Waymo acknowledged that there have been previous births in their autonomous vehicles. The company expressed its pride in being a reliable option for riders during significant moments, regardless of their age. Despite facing scrutiny over various incidents, including a recent U-turn violation and a tragic incident involving a local cat, Waymo's self-driving taxis continue to gain popularity. Riders can now access these autonomous vehicles on major roads across San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.