Waymo Considers AI Training with Rider Data: Privacy Concerns Arise
Waymo, a leading autonomous vehicle company, is reportedly planning to leverage data from its robotaxis, including **video footage** from interior cameras linked to rider identities, to train generative AI models. This potential use of rider data has sparked **privacy concerns**, especially given the possibility of personalized advertising.
A draft version of Waymo's privacy policy, uncovered by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, suggests that the company may share this data to **personalize ads**. This raises questions about the extent to which a rider's behavior within autonomous vehicles could be repurposed for AI training and marketing initiatives.
The privacy page states: "Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests. You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service.” While such language is standard in the tech world, the **inclusion of interior cameras** amplifies the privacy implications.
Waymo does provide riders with the option to prevent their personal information from being shared or sold, as defined by California's privacy laws. Specifically, riders can: "Opt out of Waymo, or its affiliates, using your personal information (including interior camera data associated with your identity) for training [generative AI]."
Unanswered Questions
Several questions remain unanswered. It's **unclear** what specific interior data would be used to train generative AI models, or the intended use cases of these models. The type of data captured by the interior cameras – facial expressions, body language, etc. – and whether Waymo is using the data for in-house models or sharing it with other Alphabet companies like Google or DeepMind, are also unknown.
TechCrunch has contacted Waymo for more details and will update the article with any responses.
Waymo's Growth and Financials
Waymo stands out as the only autonomous vehicle company currently generating revenue from robotaxi rides in the United States. As of February, the company is recording over **200,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly** across Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin. This represents substantial growth from 10,000 rides per week just two years prior.
Despite this growth, Waymo likely remains a financial drain for Alphabet. The exploration of alternative revenue streams, such as in-vehicle advertising and data sharing for generative AI models, suggests a push towards profitability. Alphabet invested an additional $5 billion in Waymo last year, and the company secured another $5.6 billion from external investors, valuing it at over $45 billion.
Waymo is heavily invested in R&D and expansion, including fleet growth, specialized equipment, vehicle maintenance, and charging infrastructure. The timeline for Waymo to achieve profitability is unclear. Waymo's financials are included in Alphabet's "other bets" section, which reported an operating loss of $1.2 billion in 2024.
Source: TechCrunch