<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">There was recent news about Waymo's usage of Remote Assistance. Here is a Gemini summary about this as well as direct links to more info.</div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><span class="gmail-model-response-text gmail-processing-state-visible enable-2026q1-formatting-improvements gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="font-variant-ligatures:none;display:block;overflow-x:visible;width:708.003px;color:initial;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:medium;height:auto;text-decoration-color:initial"><div class="gmail-container" style="padding:0px 8px 8px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span id="gmail-message-content-id-r_fcdc873085dc818e" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><div class="gmail-markdown gmail-markdown-main-panel gmail-tutor-markdown-rendering gmail-stronger enable-updated-hr-color gmail-preserve-whitespaces-in-response" id="gmail-model-response-message-contentr_fcdc873085dc818e" dir="ltr" style="font-family:"Google Sans Flex","Google Sans","Helvetica Neue",sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.75rem;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p style="margin:0px 0px 16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><br></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">There have been significant recent news stories and congressional scrutiny regarding Waymo\u2019s use of remote assistance operators.</p><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-43" style="margin:0px 0px 16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-citation-56" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">In </span><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-citation-56" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">February 2026</span></span><span class="gmail-citation-56 gmail-citation-end-56" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">, Waymo\u2019s Chief Safety Officer, Mauricio Peņa, testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, confirming that while its vehicles are autonomous, the company employs approximately 70 "Remote Assistance" (RA) agents at any given time to help the cars navigate complex or ambiguous situations.<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-55" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Crucially, the testimony revealed that about half of these workers are based in the </span><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-citation-55" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Philippines</span></span><span class="gmail-citation-55 gmail-citation-end-55" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">, with the other half in Arizona and Michigan.<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from Changing Lanes and PCMag. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-button-label gmail-gds-label-m gmail-hide-from-message-actions gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="font-family:"Google Sans Flex","Google Sans","Helvetica Neue",sans-serif;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.1px;line-height:16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">+1</span></button></div><p></p><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-44" style="margin:0px 0px 16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-citation-54 gmail-citation-end-54" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">This sparked a national security and safety debate led by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), who questioned the risks of having overseas workers influencing vehicles on U.S. roads.<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span> <span class="gmail-citation-53 gmail-citation-end-53" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Waymo has clarified that these agents provide "advice and context" rather than direct remote driving (tele-operation), and the vehicle's onboard software makes the final decision on whether to execute a suggested path.<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-multiple-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citations from San Francisco Chronicle and Changing Lanes. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-button-label gmail-gds-label-m gmail-hide-from-message-actions gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="font-family:"Google Sans Flex","Google Sans","Helvetica Neue",sans-serif;font-size:12px;letter-spacing:0.1px;line-height:16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">+1</span></button></div><p></p><h3 style="margin:28px 0px 8px;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">News Articles</span></h3><ul style="margin:8px 0px 16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-45" style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">PCMag:</span><span class="gmail-citation-52 gmail-citation-end-52" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"> Waymo Has 70 Remote Agents, But They Can't Drive the Robotaxis<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span>
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/waymo-has-70-remote-agents-but-they-cant-drive-the-robotaxis" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.pcmag.com/news/waymo-has-70-remote-agents-but-they-cant-drive-the-robotaxis</a></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from PCMag. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Futurism:</span> It Turns Out That When Waymos Are Stumped, They Get Intervention From Workers in the Philippines
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/waymos-controlled-workers-philippines" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/waymos-controlled-workers-philippines</a></span></span></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-46" style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-citation-51" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-citation-51" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Cybernews:</span></span><span class="gmail-citation-51 gmail-citation-end-51" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"> Waymo responds: overseas assistants don't remotely drive US robotaxis<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span>
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://cybernews.com/news/waymo-overseas-assistants-remote-robotaxi-senate/" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://cybernews.com/news/waymo-overseas-assistants-remote-robotaxi-senate/</a></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from Cybernews. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">The Autopian:</span> A Lot Of The Reactions To Waymo AVs Using Human Intervention When Needed Feels Needlessly Alarmist
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.theautopian.com/a-lot-of-the-reactions-to-waymo-avs-using-human-intervention-when-needed-feels-needlessly-alarmist/" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.theautopian.com/a-lot-of-the-reactions-to-waymo-avs-using-human-intervention-when-needed-feels-needlessly-alarmist/</a></span></span></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-47" style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Senator Markey\u2019s Official Press Release:</span><span class="gmail-citation-50 gmail-citation-end-50" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"> Senator Markey Opens Investigation into Autonomous Vehicle Companies' Use of Remote Human Operators<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span>
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-opens-investigation-into-autonomous-vehicle-companies-use-of-remote-human-operators" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-opens-investigation-into-autonomous-vehicle-companies-use-of-remote-human-operators</a></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from Senator Edward Markey. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"></button></div><p></p></li></ul><h3 style="margin:28px 0px 8px;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">YouTube News Coverage</span></h3><ul style="margin:8px 0px 16px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-48" style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">KRON4 News (via YouTube):</span><span class="gmail-citation-49 gmail-citation-end-49" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"> Waymo faces heat for Philippines-based car controllers<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span>
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLYhqH6YT8Q" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLYhqH6YT8Q</a></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from YouTube. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Manufacturing Now:</span> LISTEN: Waymo Workers in the Philippines Are Helping Stumped 'Driverless' Cars
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXouNb1seYM" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXouNb1seYM</a></span></span></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p id="gmail-p-rc_89bd11f265f9d6d8-49" style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">KFOR News (via YouTube):</span><span class="gmail-citation-48 gmail-citation-end-48" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"> SHOCKING REVELATION: Waymo Robotaxis RELY on REMOTE OPERATORS ABROAD<span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><sup class="gmail-superscript" style="display:inline-flex;width:12px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;color:initial;letter-spacing:0.1px;font-size:0.5rem;line-height:28px;text-decoration-color:initial"></sup></span></span>
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2VkilenX_M" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2VkilenX_M</a></span></span><span style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"></span></span></p><div class="gmail-source-inline-chip-container gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="display:inline-flex;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:text-bottom;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><button class="gmail-button gmail-ng-star-inserted" aria-label="View source details for citation from The Rundown Robotics - The Rundown AI. Opens side panel." style="padding:1px 6px;width:fit-content;height:20px;border-radius:100px;vertical-align:text-bottom;border-width:initial;border-style:none;border-color:initial;display:inline-flex;text-decoration-color:initial"></button></div><p></p></li><li style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p style="margin:8px 0px;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-weight:700;color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Spectrum News:</span> Waymo rolls out driverless robotaxis in more U.S. cities | The Big Deal
<span class="gmail-" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq7O7S_UIhY" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="color:initial">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq7O7S_UIhY</a></span></span></p></li></ul></div></span></div></span></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>