Government Docs Reveal New Details About Tesla and Waymo Robotaxis’ Human Babysitters

Wired

by Aarian Marshall

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Self-driving vehicle companies are revealing new details about their safety-critical “remote assistance” programs, shedding light on the human role in ensuring safe operation of autonomous cars. Government documents from Tesla and Alphabet subsidiary Waymo highlight how these companies rely on remote workers to assist their vehicles when software encounters challenges or confusing situations. While self-driving technology has advanced significantly, humans remain essential for navigating complex scenarios, such as power outages or traffic dilemmas that leave systems perplexed. Waymo operates a paid robotaxi service in several U.S. cities and plans to expand globally. The company’s “remote assistance” (RA) program employs about 70 agents who monitor up to 3,000 robotaxis at any given time. These workers provide advice or data to the vehicle systems but do not directly control the cars. Notably, half of Waymo’s remote assistants are contractors based in the Philippines, trained on U.S. road rules and subject to drug and alcohol testing. Complex interactions, such as collisions or regulatory issues, are handled by a highly-trained U.S.-based team. Tesla, though less detailed in its disclosures, also employs human babysitters for its autonomous vehicles. These programs are critical for addressing gaps in self-driving software, which can fail to handle unexpected situations like school buses blocking traffic or unusual road conditions. Experts emphasize that the human factor is key to ensuring safety and reliability, as machines alone cannot yet fully grasp all driving scenarios. The revelation of these programs underscores the ongoing role of humans in autonomous vehicles, challenging perceptions that self-driving cars are entirely automated. As companies expand their services, questions about oversight, training, and accountability for remote workers will likely grow in importance. This transparency is essential for building

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Originally published on Wired on 2/20/2026