Autonomous vehicle technology company Waymo has acknowledged that under certain circumstances, its driverless taxi service, or robotaxi, receives assistance from remote operators, including personnel based in the Philippines.

This information was disclosed during a United States Senate hearing on February 4, 2026, by Waymo’s Head of Safety, Mauricio Pena.

US lawmakers recently became aware that when the vehicle’s computer systems encounter uncertainty, they may seek guidance from individuals located overseas. The revelation underscores that even the most advanced artificial intelligence systems still rely on human involvement.

Pena made the statement while testifying before a US Senate Committee alongside representatives from Tesla and the autonomous vehicle industry. During the hearing, Senator Edward Markey stated that when autonomous vehicles face scenarios they cannot independently resolve, Waymo contacts a “human friend” for assistance.

He described what he called a largely opaque remote assistance operator system, which plays a role in vehicle safety yet remains largely invisible to the public. Pena, however, clarified that these workers do not take control of the vehicles and emphasized that Waymo’s system retains full responsibility for all driving decisions.

“They provide guidance. They do not remotely drive the vehicle. Waymo is always responsible for the dynamic driving task,” Pena said, as quoted by The Straits Times on Wednesday (11/2/2026).

When further pressed by Markey about the location of these human assistants, Pena responded that some are based in the United States while others are overseas. He identified the Philippines as one of the foreign locations but stated that he did not have precise figures regarding their distribution.

The admission immediately raised concerns from Markey, who framed the issue as one involving safety, security, and labor implications. “Having individuals overseas influencing American vehicles is a security issue,” he said.

Markey added that there could be risks related to information delays, unfamiliarity with US road conditions, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The disclosure came less than two weeks after a Waymo robotaxi struck a child—who sustained minor injuries—in front of an elementary school in California on January 23, 2026.

In response to the incident, the US National Transportation Safety Board has launched several investigations into cases where Waymo vehicles passed near school buses while students were boarding or exiting.

Currently, Waymo operates its autonomous vehicle services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.

The Alphabet-owned robotaxi company—Alphabet being Google’s parent company—has also announced plans to expand into additional cities, including Boston, Dallas, Washington DC, and even London in the United Kingdom.

According to the latest available data in early 2026, Waymo’s autonomous vehicle fleet, primarily consisting of robotaxis, is estimated to total approximately 2,500 units.