Woman Delivers Baby in Waymo Driverless Taxi: Unexpected Birth During Hospital Journey

A San Francisco woman unexpectedly gave birth to a baby in the backseat of a driverless Waymo robotaxi while en route to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center on Monday night, according to The San Francisco Standard.

The woman's labor progressed rapidly during the journey, resulting in her delivering the baby inside the autonomous vehicle before even reaching the hospital.

Both mother and newborn arrived safely at the medical facility in the self-driving car, reaching their destination before emergency services could respond. A Waymo representative explained that the company's remote "rider support team" detected "unusual activity" within the vehicle during the trip, prompting them to initiate a call to check on the passenger's well-being and subsequently contact emergency services.

"Earlier this week in San Francisco, a mother in labor hailed a Waymo to the hospital and ended up with an extra surprise: her baby delivered in the backseat. Some people just can't wait for their first Waymo ride," the company stated in a blog post released on Wednesday.

Following the delivery and drop-off of the mother and child, the autonomous vehicle was temporarily removed from service for thorough cleaning. A spokesperson from UCSF confirmed that both mother and newborn were properly admitted to the hospital upon their arrival.

"We're proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young. We wish the new family all the best, and we look forward to safely getting them where they're going through many of life's events," a Waymo spokesperson remarked.

This extraordinary event represents a unique milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry. Waymo acknowledged that while this wasn't the first birth to occur in one of their vehicles, such incidents remain extremely rare. The company informed The San Francisco Standard that a similar situation had previously taken place in Phoenix.

Driverless taxis are becoming increasingly prevalent across several American cities, with companies like Waymo expanding their autonomous services in locations including San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. As the technology continues to evolve, more consumers are selecting self-driving transportation options.

However, the growing popularity of autonomous vehicles has not been without controversy. In one instance, a Waymo vehicle performed an illegal U-turn in a restricted zone—an incident that generated online debate, particularly since local law enforcement was unable to issue a citation under current state legislation. Public concerns intensified when a beloved neighborhood cat named Kit Kat was fatally struck by one of the autonomous vehicles in San Francisco's Mission District.

In December last year, a passenger named Mike Johns recorded video footage of his Waymo driverless car continuously circling as it attempted to transport him to the airport in Scottsdale, Arizona. Despite these occasional challenges, adoption of driverless taxis continues to grow, driven by public curiosity and the ongoing shift toward AI-powered transportation solutions.