Waymo is preparing to use data from its robotaxis, including video from interior cameras tied to rider identities, to train generative AI models, according to an unreleased version of its privacy policy found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong, raising fresh questions about how much of a rider’s behavior inside autonomous vehicles could be repurposed for AI training.
The draft language also reveals Waymo may also share rider data to personalize ads. This isn’t new; Waymo already collects personal data to improve services and for advertising purposes, per its existing privacy policy.
What will change when this feature is released is that riders will have an opportunity to “opt out” of having their personal information sold, shared, or used for AI training.
“The feature, which is still under development, will not introduce any changes to Waymo’s Privacy Policy, but rather will offer riders an opportunity to opt out of data collection for [machine learning] training purposes,” Julia Ilina, a Waymo spokesperson, told TechCrunch.
The unreleased privacy page states: “Waymo may share data to improve and analyze its functionality and to tailor products, services, ads, and offers to your interests. You can opt out of sharing your information with third parties, unless it’s necessary to the functioning of the service.”
That language is standard in today’s world; bringing cameras into the mix is what ratchets up the creepiness factor.
“Opt out of Waymo, or its affiliates, using your personal information (including interior camera data associated with your identity) for training [generative AI],” reads the draft language of the unreleased page.
Ilina noted that Waymo uses personal data to train AI models for safety, make sure cars are clean, find lost items, provide help in case of emergency, check that in-car rules are being followed, and generally improve products and services.
“Any data Waymo collects will adhere to the Waymo One Privacy Policy,” Ilina said. “That policy explicitly states Waymo will not share personal information we collect through our products and services with other Alphabet companies for them to use for any purpose other than: with a users’ consent, in connection with providing services to Waymo, or as otherwise described in the Privacy Policy’s sharing section.”
Other Alphabet companies working on AI include Google and DeepMind.
When asked whether Waymo will alert riders about the ability to opt out when the feature is live, or whether users will have to hunt through the app to find it themselves, Ilina said the company has not yet finalized its notification or deployment plans.
Waymo is, to date, the only autonomous vehicle company pulling in revenue for robotaxi rides in the United States. As of February, the company is logging more than 200,000 paid robotaxi rides every week via its commercial services in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin. That’s up from 10,000 rides per week just two years ago and is a harbinger of more growth as Waymo expands into new markets. The company aims to launch a commercial service in Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C., over the next two years.
Despite these gains, Waymo is still likely a money loser for Alphabet, which might be why the company appears to be exploring other revenue streams, like in-vehicle advertising and data sharing for generative AI models.
Last year, Alphabet poured another $5 billion into Waymo, and the company raised an additional $5.6 billion from outside investors that boosted its valuation to more than $45 billion.
Waymo is still investing heavily in R&D and incurring the costs of expansion, including growing its fleet, buying specialized equipment, vehicle maintenance, and charging infrastructure.
It’s not clear how far Waymo is from breaking even, much less profitability. Alphabet doesn’t break out Waymo’s financials in its earnings report. Instead, Waymo is included in Alphabet’s “other bets” section of its balance sheet, which in 2024 recorded an operating loss of $1.2 billion.
This article was originally published April 7, 2025 at 9:04 am PT. It has been updated to reflect new information from Waymo.
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