Advice, not control: the role of Remote Assistance in Waymo's operations

7 days ago

Waymo's mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver, emphasizing safety and transparency.
Remote Assistance (RA) at Waymo is not like aircraft dispatch; it provides advice upon request from the automated driving system.
RA does not continuously monitor vehicles but responds to specific requests with a median latency of 150-250 milliseconds.
The Event Response Team (ERT) handles complex tasks like emergency coordination and is exclusively U.S.-based.
All RA agents undergo rigorous vetting, including driving history checks, background checks, and ongoing assessments.
As of February 2026, Waymo has about 70 RA agents globally supporting a fleet of 3,000 vehicles.
Waymo vehicles drive over four million miles weekly, providing more than 400,000 rides.

Hasty Briefsbeta