A man was arrested for vandalism after he was captured on video attacking a Waymo self-driving vehicle in East Hollywood, Los Angeles. The incident, which occurred at a busy intersection, saw the man on the vehicle's crushed windshield wielding a bent windshield wiper and shouting at the car's sensors.
Traffic halted as onlookers recorded the scene, which police later responded to. According to ABC 7 News, the man was arrested for vandalism. The incident has drawn comparisons to dystopian video games, with one commenter noting the situation felt like it was from Cyberpunk 2077. The Waymo vehicle sustained significant damage, including a shattered windshield.
This event is one of several notable Waymo-related incidents. Citizen App footage also captured teens arrested for underage drinking and firing Orbeez gel blasters during a ride in a Waymo. The appearance of these autonomous vehicles in major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles has become more common. One observer described seeing a Waymo near an AI-controlled delivery robot in Los Angeles, a sight that prompted reflection on the direction of the economy and automation.
The actions of the individual have sparked discussion online, with some interpreting the event through a lens of societal commentary on technology and automation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the public's sometimes volatile interactions with emerging autonomous technologies.