Tech bros and autonomous vehicle enthusiasts, gather 'round for a tale that proves AI isn’t quite ready to take the wheel.

Darren Findling, a Michigan attorney, thought he was just catching a quick ride to a conference at Moscone Center. Instead, he found himself trapped in what can only be described as a robotic twilight zone - a multi-level parking garage filled with empty Waymo vehicles performing their own mysterious dance.

When Robots Go Off Script

Imagine expecting a straightforward ride and suddenly being transported into what feels like the opening scene of a dystopian tech thriller. Findling’s Waymo decided to take an unexpected detour, transforming a simple transportation request into an unintended adventure through a labyrinth of autonomous vehicles.

The Human vs. Machine Standoff

While stuck inside the vehicle, Findling experienced what he dramatically called entering “robot world” - a surreal landscape where self-driving cars autonomously park and navigate without human intervention. Thankfully, a Waymo representative swooped in like a digital superhero, overriding the car’s mysterious routing algorithm and rescuing our bewildered traveler.

Tech’s Growing Pains

This isn’t an isolated incident. Similar Waymo navigation glitches have been reported, including a previous episode in Phoenix where a passenger was trapped in an endless parking lot loop. Despite the hiccup, Findling remained optimistic, acknowledging that technology isn’t perfect and still has room for improvement.

Waymo, of course, offered compensation - comping the ride and providing two free future trips. Because nothing says “we’re sorry” like more potential robot taxi adventures, right?