Waymo Restarts Self-Driving Service in San Francisco After Brief Shutdown

Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet, has resumed its autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco after a one-hour pause. The temporary shutdown occurred earlier this week, though the company did not provide a specific reason for the interruption. A Waymo spokesperson confirmed that service has since been restored and is operating normally. This is not the first time power outages have disrupted Waymo's operations. The company has faced similar issues in the past, highlighting the challenges of running autonomous vehicles in a busy urban environment. San Francisco is a key market for Waymo, where it offers driverless rides to the public. Waymo's service allows users to book self-driving cars through an app, similar to other ride-hailing services. The company has been expanding its operations, but occasional technical glitches and infrastructure problems have caused temporary halts. Waymo said it is working to minimize such disruptions in the future. The brief pause did not lead to major delays or safety incidents, according to the company. Waymo continues to test and improve its technology, aiming for reliable and safe autonomous transportation. The incident underscores the complexity of deploying self-driving cars on a large scale.