Waymo’s Robotaxis Stalled in San Francisco Blackout, Software Update Coming

Waymo's autonomous vehicles hit a literal dead end during a recent San Francisco power outage, forcing the company to scramble for a software fix.

When the Lights Go Out

The incident exposed a critical vulnerability in the robotaxi fleet's operational logic. Without streetlights and traffic signals, the vehicles' systems defaulted to a safety halt, stranding them until human operators could intervene. It's a stark reminder that even the most advanced AI still struggles with the unpredictable chaos of the real world—something human drivers navigate, albeit grumpily, every day.

The Patch is Coming

Waymo engineers are now racing to push a software update designed to handle "dark traffic scenarios." The fix aims to teach the vehicles to cautiously proceed or find a safe pull-over spot during widespread power failures, rather than freezing in place. This isn't just about convenience; it's a necessary step toward proving the technology's resilience and earning public trust.

A Costly Glitch for the Bottom Line

Every minute a robotaxi is stalled is a minute it's not generating revenue. For investors banking on autonomous driving to slash labor costs and operate 24/7, these hiccups are more than engineering puzzles—they're drags on the path to profitability. It's the kind of real-world stress test that separates viable tech from vaporware, and it's far more telling than any glossy corporate deck. After all, in the race for autonomy, the market tends to short stocks that can't handle a little darkness.

The road to full autonomy is paved with unexpected failures. Waymo's blackout stumble is a necessary, if embarrassing, step forward—a costly reminder that the final 1% of the challenge often demands 99% of the effort.

Massive outage disrupts holiday weekend with abandoned Waymo cars

The power failure affected roughly 130,000 customers at its peak. It shut down stores and disrupted public transportation during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Many Waymo cars, which are part of Alphabet Inc.’s robotaxi business, were caught up in the chaos.

Michele Riva, 30, was riding home in a Waymo on Saturday evening when the lights went out. His car kept going through a less busy part of the city, even as people walked across the street. But when he was just a minute from his destination, the vehicle stopped at a “very dense intersection” where the traffic lights had gone dark. He got no warning.

“I stayed in the Waymo for a couple of minutes, just to see,” Riva, who works as an engineer in artificial intelligence, told Bloomberg. “The problem was that, at the beginning, there were a lot of people crossing the streets because there were no traffic lights. So I believe Waymo just didn’t know what to do.”

Riva tried reaching customer support for about three minutes while stuck inside the car. He gave up after the wait became too long, as the service was swamped with calls from other passengers. He stepped out and walked the remaining few blocks home.

PG&E, which blamed the blackout on a substation fire, started bringing power back Saturday evening. By Sunday morning, the utility said it had restored electricity for 110,000 customers, though 21,000 remained in the dark.

On Sunday, the Waymo app displayed a message telling some customers that service was on hold in the Bay Area. At least seven cities were affected.

Emergency software updates in the works

“Our teams are working diligently and in close coordination with city officials, and we are hopeful to bring our services back online soon,” a Waymo spokesperson said Sunday.

Riva tried to book another Waymo ride on Sunday before seeing the notice.

“At the end of the day, I know it was an unpleasant situation for the other drivers, but I believe it really was all about safety — I believe it’s better SAFE than sorry,” Riva said. “I hope they will account for that in the future, because it’s truly a good service.”

Waymo said it is now working to add more information to its software about the “context” of regional power outages. This should help the vehicles “navigate these intersections more decisively.” The company is also teaming up with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie on emergency response plans and updating training for first responders.

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