Alphabet's Waymo has initiated a pilot program in Atlanta that pays DoorDash drivers to close the doors on its driverless robotaxis when passengers leave them ajar. The autonomous vehicles are unable to operate if a door is not properly shut, creating a logistical issue that Waymo is solving by dispatching gig workers.
This partnership provides a solution to an unforeseen manual task required to keep the autonomous fleet operational and get vehicles back on the road quickly. DoorDash drivers are notified through their app of a nearby Waymo vehicle needing assistance and are compensated for the simple task of closing the door. Waymo has stated that future versions of its vehicles will be equipped with self-closing doors, but the current fleet of retrofitted Jaguar I-PACE SUVs lacks this feature.