Waymo is paying DoorDash gig workers to close its robotaxi doors

Waymo’s cars are driven unmanned. However, when a departing passenger leaves the door open, the car will not move until someone closes the door.

For this role, Waymo is turning to gig workers from companies such as: Door Indicator.

AlphabetThe self-driving car company confirmed Thursday that it was running a pilot in Atlanta to compensate delivery drivers for shutting down Waymo doors that were left open. DoorDash drivers are notified when the door of a Waymo in the area is open, so vehicles can quickly get back on the road, the company said.

This statement came after a Reddit post to post It showed a DoorDash driver in Atlanta being offered $11.25 to close the door of a nearby Waymo.

Waymo and DoorDash said in a joint statement to CNBC that they are always looking for new and flexible ways for DoorDash delivery drivers to make money, adding that future Waymo vehicles will have an automatic door closing feature. Waymo didn’t say when this capability would arrive.

Waymo’s reliance on humans for simple tasks underscores that even the most advanced autonomous technologies still require costly human intervention for some basic operations. Waymo, which was valued at $126 billion in a recent funding round, is at the center of Alphabet’s Other Bets, which aim to “use technology to solve big problems affecting a wide range of industries, including transportation and health technology,” according to the company’s financial filings.

in the alphabet annual filing Last week, the company said its Other Bets segment recorded an operating loss of $7.5 billion last year, which included $2.1 billion in stock-based compensation at Waymo.

In addition to DoorDash, Waymo also pays users of Honk, an independent roadside assistance company, to close their robotaxi doors. A recent Washington Post report Waymo said Honk users, who are paid to maintain their vehicles, were offered up to $24 for closing a door in Los Angeles.

Waymo on Thursday launched its next-generation robotaxi service as it looks to expand its lead in the United States. Waymo currently offers its fully autonomous robotaxi service in six U.S. markets and plans to expand to several more markets this year.

WRISTWATCH: Waymo received $16 billion investment at a $126 billion valuation