A blackout in San Francisco revealed a new way for robotaxis to go wrong. Waymo’s self-driving robotaxis can successfully nail a tricky left turn, weave through lanes to drop you off at the airport, and safely pass a U-Haul that’s idling in the middle of the street. But during a blackout, they apparently turn into four-wheel bricks.

In addition to an update for its power outage problem, Waymo is also working on an AI Ride Assistant. That’s according to security researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who found details on the bot’s system prompt from Waymo’s mobile app code.

Last week, Waymo and Santa Monica filed competing lawsuits, with Waymo claiming its vehicles “do not constitute a public nuisance.” And after failed exchanges between the parties, the case is headed to Los Angeles County Superior Court sometime in 2026.

Waymo is testing a Gemini-powered in-car AI assistant, per findings from a 1,200-line system prompt. The assistant can answer general knowledge questions, control certain in-cabin features, and more.

Driverless vehicles no longer exist solely in spy movies and futuristic dreams. In fact, Solano County streets are one step closer to a future that features these self-driving “robotaxis.”

Waymo’s robotaxis suffered a serious failure on Saturday when a power outage affecting a large part of San Francisco caused problems for its autonomous cars in the city. Some 130,000 residents lost power to their homes and businesses,

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Recent service disruptions involving Waymo autonomous vehicles in San Francisco have drawn attention to a core challenge in autonomous mobility: dependence on a single network or network access technology.

The biggest stories of the year, with no surprise, the Waymo and Tesla constrast playing a big role in the year's news.