Waymo’s self-driving cars no longer honk when near each other, as confirmed by Waymo’s Director of Product and Operations Vishay Nihalani during a recent appearance on software engineer Sophia Tung’s livestream. These vehicles were previously observed honking at each other, leading Waymo to issue a software patch to rectify the issue. Despite the patch going live, nearby residents reported that the honking persisted, prompting Tung to live stream the ongoing honking with a lo-fi soundtrack, reminiscent of the popular LoFi Girl channel on YouTube. Nihalani explained that while the honking was intended as a safety feature on public roads, it was never meant for the vehicles to honk while idling in a parking lot. All taxis have since been updated to resolve the honking problem. Waymo’s services are available in San Francisco, Phoenix, and parts of Los Angeles, where they have been conducting 50,000 paid trips per week. Despite the honking issue being resolved, Tung’s livestream of the taxi depot continues to provide a chill vibe for viewers.
