Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, may be taking a controversial step towards using interior camera footage from its robotaxis to train AI models and personalize ads, according to a draft privacy policy uncovered by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.
The unpublished policy states that Waymo may share data from its interior cameras to tailor products, services, ads, and offers. Riders will have the option to opt out of having their personal information used for AI training, but the inclusion of interior camera footage raises concerns about privacy in autonomous vehicles.
It remains unclear what specific data is being collected from the interior cameras, whether it includes facial expressions or body language, and whether it is used solely by Waymo or shared with other Alphabet-owned AI teams like Google or DeepMind.
In comparison, Tesla vehicles also have an in-car cabin camera, but all data is kept locally and not sent back to the company’s servers. The idea of Tesla selling in-car cabin camera data for AI training and targeted ads seems far-fetched.
Despite concerns about privacy, Waymo remains the only U.S. robotaxi company generating revenue from paid rides. The company currently logs over 200,000 weekly trips in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with plans to expand into Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C. within the next two years.
However, despite its growth, Waymo continues to operate at a loss. Alphabet invested $5 billion into the company last year, with additional investments from outside sources totaling $5.6 billion, valuing the company at $45 billion. Analysts speculate that Waymo may be exploring new revenue sources, such as in-car ads and data monetization, to offset its significant losses.
The potential use of interior camera footage for AI training and personalized ads by Waymo raises important questions about privacy and data usage in autonomous vehicles. As technology continues to advance, it will be crucial for companies like Waymo to prioritize the protection of user data while also exploring innovative ways to generate revenue and improve their services.