Waymo is preparing to use its robot’s data, including videos from internal cameras bound to the rider’s identity, to train the generated AI model. Privacy Policy New questions about riders’ behavior within autonomous vehicles were found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, which can be reused for AI training.
The language draft also reveals that Waymo can also share rider data to personalize ads. This is not new; Waymo has collected personal data for improved service and advertising purposes, according to its existing Privacy Policy.
What changes when this feature is released is that riders will have the opportunity to “opt” to sell, share, or use it for AI training.
“The feature is still under development and will not introduce any changes to Waymo’s privacy policy, but will provide riders with the opportunity to opt out of data collection. [machine learning] Training purpose,” Waymo spokesman Julia Ilina told TechCrunch.
The unpublished privacy page states: “Waymo can share data to improve and analyze its functionality and tailor products, services, advertisements and offers to your interests. You can choose to share your information with third parties unless it is a necessary condition for the service’s functionality.”
The language is standard in today’s world; bringing cameras into the mix is a creepy factor.
“Choose to opt out of Waymo or its affiliates for training with your personal information (including internal camera data related to your identity) [generative AI]” read the language draft of unreleased pages.
Ilina notes that Waymo uses personal data to train AI models to ensure safety, ensure cars are clean, find lost items, help in emergencies, check whether on-board rules are followed, and often improve products and services.
“Any data collected by Waymo will comply with the Waymo One privacy policy,” Ilina said. “This policy explicitly states that Waymo will not share the personal information we collect through products and services for other alphabet companies to use for any purpose other than any purpose: with the user’s consent, in connection with the services described in the provision of services for Waymo or the services described in the sharing section of the Privacy Policy.”
Other alphabet companies engaged in AI include Google and DeepMind.
When asked if Waymo would remind riders of when and when to use the feature’s capabilities, or if users have to search through the app to find it themselves, Ilina said the company has not completed its notification or deployment plan.
Waymo is the only self-driving car company to date, earning revenue for Robotaxi in the United States. As of February, the company is logging in Robotaxi rides with over 200,000 paid Weekly through its business services in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin. This is the increase in 10,000 rides a week two years ago, and its omens increase as Waymo expands to new markets. The company aims to launch commercial services in Atlanta, Miami and Washington, D.C. over the next two years.
Despite these gains, Waymo is still likely to be a letter money loser, which may be why the company appears to be exploring other revenue streams, such as in-car advertising and data sharing used to generate AI models.
Last year, the letters fell Another $5 billion Enter Waymo, the company raised additional $5.6 billion Increased its valuation from external investors by more than $45 billion.
Waymo is still investing heavily in R&D and incurring expansion costs, including growing fleets, purchasing professional equipment, car maintenance and charging infrastructure.
It is not clear how far Waymo is from breaking even less profitability. Alphabet did not undermine Waymo’s financial position in its earnings report. Instead, Waymo is included in the letter “Other Bets” section of its balance sheet Recorded business losses $1.2 billion.
This article was originally published on April 7, 2025 at 9:04 pm. It has been updated to reflect new information from Waymo.
