Waymo and Tesla Reveal Details on Robotaxi 'Remote Assistance' Programs

Self-driving vehicle companies share new information about the humans who help their autonomous cars navigate tricky situations.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:53pm

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In government documents and public statements, Alphabet's Waymo and electric automaker Tesla have revealed more details about the 'remote assistance' programs that use human operators to help their self-driving vehicles when their software encounters confusing situations on public roads. The companies say these remote workers provide advice and support but do not directly control the cars, countering claims that the vehicles are simply remote-controlled. Waymo says it has about 70 remote assistants on duty at any given time to monitor its 3,000 robotaxis, with half of those workers being contractors overseas in the Philippines.

Why it matters

The humans supporting self-driving vehicles through remote assistance programs play a critical role in ensuring the cars are driving safely, as even the most advanced autonomous systems can encounter situations that confuse them. If these remote workers make mistakes, it could lead to dangerous outcomes like a car running a red light. Understanding the details of these programs is important as self-driving technology expands to more cities.

The details

Waymo and Tesla have revealed new information about their 'remote assistance' programs, which use human operators to help their self-driving vehicles navigate tricky situations. Waymo says its remote assistance agents provide advice and support to the vehicle's autonomous systems but do not directly control the cars. The company has about 70 remote assistants on duty at any given time to monitor its 3,000 robotaxis, with half of those workers being contractors overseas in the Philippines. These remote workers are licensed to drive in the Philippines and are trained on US road rules. Waymo also says all remote assistance workers are drug and alcohol tested when hired, and 45% are randomly tested every three months.

  • In December, a power outage in San Francisco caused stop lights to go dark, stranding confused Waymo vehicles in several intersections.
  • In recent months, there have been several instances of Waymo vehicles illegally blowing past stopped school buses unloading students in Austin, Texas, leading to a software recall.

The players

Waymo

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

Tesla

An electric automaker that is also developing self-driving vehicle technology.

Philip Koopman

An autonomous vehicle software and safety researcher at Carnegie Mellon University.

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What they’re saying

“For the foreseeable future, there will be people who play a role in the vehicles' behavior, and therefore have a safety role to play.”

— Philip Koopman, Autonomous vehicle software and safety researcher (Wired)

“Waymo's RA agents provide advice and support to the Waymo Driver but do not directly control, steer, or drive the vehicle.”

— Ryan McNamara, Vice President and Global Head of Operations, Waymo (Wired)

What’s next

Waymo says it plans to launch its robotaxi service in at least 10 more cities, including London, this year.

The takeaway

As self-driving technology expands, the humans supporting these autonomous vehicles through remote assistance programs will play an increasingly critical role in ensuring public safety. Understanding the details of these programs, including the qualifications and oversight of the remote workers, will be important for building public trust in this emerging technology.