In a bizarre incident that highlights the challenges of autonomous vehicle technology, a Los Angeles tech entrepreneur found himself trapped in a Waymo car that repeatedly circled a parking lot, causing him to miss his flight home. Mike Johns, who was returning from Scottsdale, Arizona, captured the surreal experience on a LinkedIn video three weeks ago.

In the footage, Johns expressed his frustration and confusion as he communicated with a Waymo customer service representative. “I got a flight to catch. Why is this thing going in a circle? I’m getting dizzy,” he exclaimed. Johns, wearing his seatbelt and unable to exit the vehicle, wondered if he was the victim of a prank, saying, “Has this been hacked? What’s going on? I feel like I’m in the movies.”

Amidst his escalating panic, the customer service rep instructed him to use his Waymo app to stop the vehicle, but struggled with the command, raising concerns about the reliability of the technology. Although he 'nearly' made it to his flight according to CBS reports, Johns later noted that he had yet to receive any follow-up from Waymo after the incident. His LinkedIn post pointedly remarked, “You’d think by now Waymo would email, text or call for a follow-up. Nope, customer service is automated and run by AI.”

While Waymo's robotic taxis have been a common sight in San Francisco for years, the company began offering its services to all riders in Los Angeles last fall. With lofty aspirations to decrease traffic-related injuries and fatalities, Waymo's proponents praise the service as a safer alternative to traditional cab rides. However, this incident adds to a growing list of tech glitches and safety incidents that have accompanied the rollout of autonomous vehicles in various cities.

Additionally, just days after Johns' ordeal, there was another unsettling encounter involving Waymo in downtown L.A., where a man allegedly attempted to hijack an autonomous vehicle. Police were able to apprehend the suspect after he was forcibly removed from the car.

With these high-profile incidents bringing attention to potential flaws in autonomous driving systems, questions surrounding user safety and the reliability of artificial intelligence in critical situations are more relevant than ever. Will Waymo and similar companies address these concerns before the next passenger finds themselves caught in a loop? Only time will tell. Stay tuned!