The Mystery of the Loitering Waymos

In the heart of West Los Angeles, 10-year-old Morgan can hardly contain her excitement when a Waymo robotaxi pulls up and parks in front of her home. "The Waymo is home!" she gleefully calls out to her parents, Lisa Delgin and Zach Tucker.

This isn’t a rare occurrence; Waymos have been frequent visitors to this spot since last year, often idling for minutes or even hours. "It’s like a beacon that knows exactly where to go," says Delgin.

Locals Confounded by Repeated Visits

Like many residents, the Delgin/Tucker family is baffled by this trend. Why their home? They’ve taken note that multiple Waymos pick the same two parking spots: either right in front of their house or right next door. If those spots are taken, the Waymos simply slow down but refuse to park elsewhere.

Their curiosity is shared by others in the area, as residents across LA, from Brentwood to Westchester, report similar sightings of Waymos repeatedly returning to specific locations. This parking pattern is not isolated to California—Arizona residents have noted similar behavior since Waymo’s inception there.

Why Do They Park Here?

With growing concerns about privacy and safety due to the cars' cameras and sensors, residents are left wondering about the technology's decision-making process. Experts suggest factors like congestion, proximity to high-traffic areas, and a lack of parking restrictions might influence a Waymo’s choice, but the exact reasoning remains elusive.

Waymo's Perspective

Waymo admits that parking on the street is sometimes part of the vehicles' daily routines. Their director of product management, Vishay Nihalani, stated, "Our vehicles will find appropriate parking spots to wait for short periods between trips." Waymo is even collaborating on a study to analyze street parking behavior and its effects on ride wait times.

Unlike human drivers who typically return home when off-duty, Waymo vehicles may opt to park to conserve energy and reduce traffic, particularly when demand is low.

The AI Dilemma

While Waymo loosely understands its parking choices, the algorithmic logic behind the repeated visits to specific locations remains a bit mysterious. Experts like Carnegie Mellon professor Phil Koopman theorize that Waymo may be relying on machine learning algorithms, making decisions based on vast amounts of data without human guidance.

This raises questions about accountability and safety in more critical situations. After all, while parking may seem low-stakes, the implications of opaque algorithms are concerning.

Community Response and Future Steps

While some residents, like Tal from Pico / Fairfax, feel uneasy about the constant presence of these cameras, others, like the Delgins, find it amusing with occasional frustration as they deal with blocked driveways.

Despite these concerns, Waymo has assured local communities that it is committed to being a good neighbor and is willing to adapt based on feedback.

The Delgin/Tucker household has noticed a decline in the visits from their robot neighbors lately, suggesting that as demand grows, the ability of Waymos to park in front of homes might dwindle.

For now, locals are left to ponder the peculiar behavior of these AI-driven taxis, while parents like Lisa Delgin just hope to see a Waymo pull up when they need it.