Next up, some one will post, "First class tickets cost more than coach."
Waymo will eventually have Waymo Comfort and Waymo Black.
It's a criticism, because this same segment also realizes that a Waymo ride is WAY cheaper to operate than a human driven one.
Ummm then why on earth would they spend the money to build them if it wasn't?!
> but they certainly have to factor in all the R&D they're spending.
Those are capital expenses.
If this were broadly true, Waymo would be everywhere. If it is true, and that’s a big if that it isn’t being subsidized by the rest of Alphabet, it is only true in a very, very, tiny area of the Earth.
On the other hand, Uber is a publicly listed company with public financials already operating globally with profits.
It's not everywhere because of regulation and Waymo wanting to strategically roll it out carefully to markets. Remember, this is Waymo's first market to offer Waymo through the Uber app. There's a reason Waymo hasn't tested non-human driving in Chicago but it has in Phoenix, SF and Austin (I could give you a hint as to why but I'm sure its obvious).
> Uber is a publicly listed company with public financials already operating globally with profits.
And wants to create even more profit...what's your point? Also it's operating income is a paltry $2B for a company with $41B in revenue. Most of its current net income is from investing activities.
Source? Also, those numbers are quoted with including capital expenditures, which will get depreciated over years. Also, to do a like for like comparison you have to include all of the people, processes, and systems in place that support drivers. That cost center at Uber has to be in the millions globally for Uber (and hard to calculate on a per driver basis, but possible if we had internal numbers).
So why not open up the entire service area? The answer was cost. At the time they were still losing money per ride to help get ML training feedback.
> where you can't even fit two people in the back seat
As an bald, middle-aged man such risks are negligible for me, but I can see how some people might prefer a driverless vehicle.
If you're aware of a medical burden, you've done a pretty good job of avoiding the worst case scenario.
Does Google ever delete those records? Being Google, I bet they don't.
Regarding retention of these video recordings, you should check the Waymo user agreement in your area. You might even have the right to ask them to delete it earlier.
Reading that Wiki page also taught me about the follow-up act passed by ballot prop: <<The California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA)... The CPRA took effect on January 1, 2023, applying to personal data collected on or after January 1, 2022. The law cannot be repealed by state legislature, and any amendments made must be “consistent with and further the purpose and intent” of the Act.>>. (Wow... pretty strong!)
I like your idea. I think it would be a worthy experience for someone on HN to contact Waymo after taking some rides and ask about videos taken during their ride. Do they have a system to request removal? Also: What are their rights under CCPA?
Finally, here is a help page from Waymo about the issue: https://support.google.com/waymo/answer/9190819?hl=en
Last FAQ has the key:
> Can I remove my data from Waymo’s system?
> You have many choices regarding how your data is used, such as viewing and editing trip history in the Waymo One app, updating your account information, deleting your account, changing location permissions, and opting out of receiving promotional messages.
> California residents have the ability to delete personal information associated with their Waymo One account or download a copy of it. If you have questions or requests related to your rights under state privacy laws, you (or your authorized agent) can also contact Waymo using this help article, Exercising your California privacy rights, or by calling us at 1-844-261-3753. See more information about these tools in our Privacy Policy.