DoorDash drivers are getting paid to close Waymo car doors

Waymo’s Robotaxis Now Paying Gig Workers to Close Car Doors—And It’s Becoming a Viral Side Hustle!

In a surprising twist of automation and gig economy synergy, Waymo—the self-driving car subsidiary of Alphabet—is now outsourcing a surprisingly human task to DoorDash drivers: closing car doors. Yes, you read that right. While Waymo’s fleet of autonomous vehicles can navigate city streets, pick up passengers, and drop them off without a human behind the wheel, they still can’t quite manage to shut the door behind them.

Earlier this week, a DoorDash driver in Atlanta shared a screenshot on Reddit’s r/DoorDash_Dasher community that quickly went viral. The post revealed an offer from the DoorDash app: drive nine minutes to a Waymo vehicle and close its door for a cool $11.25. The gig, while simple, sparked a wave of reactions, with many users marveling at the irony of high-tech robotaxis needing low-tech human assistance.

According to Waymo, this is part of a pilot program in Atlanta where the company pays gig workers to close doors that are left ajar on its vehicles. The logic is straightforward: an open door can prevent the car from moving, so DoorDash drivers are notified when a nearby Waymo vehicle needs a quick assist. Once the door is closed, the car can resume its journey.

While this might seem like a minor inconvenience, it highlights an interesting reality about the current state of autonomous technology. Waymo’s vehicles are capable of complex tasks like navigating traffic, avoiding obstacles, and adhering to traffic laws, but they still rely on humans for basic functions like door management. It’s a reminder that even the most advanced AI systems have their limitations—and sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective.

For gig workers in Atlanta, this presents a unique opportunity to earn extra cash with minimal effort. However, if you’re in Los Angeles and looking to maximize your earnings, you might want to consider the roadside assistance app Honk instead. According to a Washington Post report, Honk workers who service Waymo vehicles in L.A. can earn up to $24 per door-closing gig—nearly double what DoorDash drivers make in Atlanta. That’s a whopping $12.75 more for the same task, making it a lucrative side hustle for those in the right location.

Waymo has acknowledged that future iterations of its vehicles will feature automatic closing doors, but the company hasn’t provided a timeline for when this upgrade will roll out. Until then, gig workers in select cities can cash in on this quirky intersection of technology and human labor.

This development also raises questions about the evolving relationship between automation and the gig economy. As self-driving cars become more prevalent, they may create new opportunities for gig workers to fill in the gaps where technology falls short. Whether it’s closing doors, refueling, or performing minor maintenance, there’s a growing niche for humans to complement the capabilities of autonomous systems.

For now, though, the sight of a DoorDash driver sprinting to close a Waymo car door is both a testament to human ingenuity and a humorous reminder that even the most advanced technology still has room for improvement. As one Reddit user quipped, “The future is here—and it needs help with the doors.”

Tags: Waymo, robotaxis, DoorDash, gig economy, autonomous vehicles, self-driving cars, viral side hustle, automation, tech news, gig work, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Honk, roadside assistance, tech irony, human labor, AI limitations, future of transportation.

Viral Phrases: “The future is here—and it needs help with the doors,” “Waymo’s robotaxis can’t close their own doors,” “Gig workers cashing in on high-tech hiccups,” “Automation meets the gig economy in the most unexpected way,” “Closing car doors for $24? Sign me up!”

,