Waymo Turns to Gig Workers to Close Robotaxi Doors

Self-driving car company relies on DoorDash and Honk drivers to manually close vehicle doors left open by passengers.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, is paying gig workers from services like DoorDash and Honk to close the doors on its self-driving robotaxis when passengers leave them open. This highlights some of the limitations of Waymo's current autonomous technology, which still requires human intervention for basic tasks like door closing. Waymo says future vehicles will have automated door closure capabilities, but the company is relying on the gig economy in the meantime to keep its robotaxis operational.

Why it matters

Waymo's reliance on human workers to perform simple tasks like closing doors underscores the challenges facing even the most advanced autonomous vehicle technology. While Waymo is a leader in self-driving, it still requires costly human intervention for basic operations, raising questions about the true capabilities and limitations of current autonomous systems.

The details

Waymo is running a pilot program in Atlanta where it notifies DoorDash delivery drivers when a Waymo robotaxi has an open door, offering them $11.25 to close it so the vehicle can continue operating. Waymo is also paying users of the roadside assistance service Honk up to $24 in Los Angeles to close Waymo doors. This human assistance is necessary because Waymo's self-driving cars won't move until a door is closed, highlighting a key limitation of the technology.

  • Waymo confirmed the pilot program with DoorDash on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • A recent Washington Post report said Honk users were being offered up to $24 in Los Angeles to close Waymo doors.

The players

Waymo

An autonomous driving company and subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

DoorDash

A food delivery service that Waymo is partnering with to have gig workers close the doors on its self-driving robotaxis.

Honk

An independent roadside assistance company that Waymo is also paying to have users close the doors on its autonomous vehicles.

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What’s next

Waymo says future versions of its robotaxis will have automated door closure capabilities, but it did not provide a timeline for when that technology will be implemented.

The takeaway

Waymo's reliance on gig workers to perform basic tasks like closing doors on its self-driving cars highlights the limitations of current autonomous vehicle technology. While Waymo is an industry leader, it still requires costly human intervention for simple operations, raising questions about the true capabilities of self-driving cars and the timeline for fully autonomous vehicles.