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Waymo Cars Shout At Each Other, Autonomously

Apparently, San Francisco's Waymo self-driving cars have a lot to say to each other. Especially at night.


(Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco)

NBC Bay Area reported that San Francisco's South of Market residents are being awakened throughout the night by Waymo self-driving cars honking at each other in a parking lot. No one is inside the cars, and they appear to be automatically reacting to each other's presence.

Videos provided by residents to NBC show Waymo cars filing into the parking lot and attempting to back into spots, which seems to trigger honking from other Waymo vehicles. The automatic nature of these interactions—which seem to peak around 4 am every night—has left neighbors bewildered and sleep-deprived.

In his whimsical 1953 short story Sally, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov describes Autonomous Car Intercommunication:


('Sally' by Isaac Asimov)

My cars talk to one another. I have no doubt about it anymore. It's as though they've gained confidence; as though they're not bothering to keep it secret anymore.

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