Waymo and DoorDash pay drivers to close open robotaxi doors

Waymo and DoorDash confirmed they are working together to send people out to close robotaxi doors left open by riders. The arrangement came to light after a Reddit post showed the DoorDash app offering $6.25 to drive a few blocks and close a Waymo door; once the task was completed and verified, the driver would be paid an additional $5.

The user said they had never seen an offer like this and some observers wondered if the order was fake. TechCrunch reached out to Waymo and DoorDash, and the two companies confirmed they are indeed working together and paying people to close doors. “Waymo is currently running a pilot program in Atlanta to enhance its AV fleet efficiency.

In the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get its vehicles back on the road quickly,” said the companies in a joint statement. That means DoorDashers are being paid to close doors on vehicles that are designed to one day replace drivers.

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