Waymo can use inner camera data to train generative AI models, sell advertisements

Waymo is preparing to use the data of his robotaxis, including the videos of the interior cameras linked to the driver's identities, to train generative ai models, according to an unprecedented version of his <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://x.com/wongmjane/status/1908629210123677901″>Privacy Policy Found by researcher Jane Manchun Wong.

The language draft reveals that Waymo can also share this data to customize the ads, asking new questions about how much of the behavior of a driver within the autonomous vehicles could be reused for the training and marketing of ai.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter“>

The privacy page establishes: “Waymo can share data to improve and analyze its functionality and adapt products, services, advertisements and offers to your interests. You can choose not to share your information with third parties, unless necessary for the operation of the service.”

That language is standard in today's world; Bringing cameras to the mixture is what increases the spooky factor.

Waymo gives runners the option to avoid their personal information, as defined by California privacy laws, which are shared or sold. Passengers can also: “opt out of Waymo, or their affiliates, using their personal information (including interior chamber data associated with their identity) for training (generative ai).”

It is not clear what interior data could be used to train generative models, or what are the planned use cases of said models. Nor is it obvious what type of data they capture the inner cameras: facial expressions? Body language? -o if Waymo is using the data to train internal models or if you are sharing that data with other alphabet companies that work in ai such as Google or Deepmind.

Techcrunch has communicated with Waymo for more information and will update this publication if the company responds.

Waymo is, to date, the only autonomous vehicle company that obtains income for Robotaxi's trips in the United States. As of February, the company is registering more than 200,000 Trips Robotaxi paid every week through its commercial services in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin. That is more than 10,000 trips per week only two years ago, and it is an omen of more growth as Waymo expands to the new markets. The company aims to launch a commercial service in Atlanta, Miami and Washington DC in the next two years.

Despite these profits, Waymo is likely to be a loser of money for the alphabet, so the company seems to be exploring other sources of income, such as advertising in the vehicle and the exchange of data for generative ai models.

Last year, Alphabet poured another $ 5 billion in Waymo, and the company raised $ 5.6 billion of additional external investors that increased their valuation to more than $ 45 billion.

Waymo is still invested strongly in R&D and incurring expansion costs, including the growth of its fleet, the purchase of specialized equipment, vehicle maintenance and load infrastructure.

It is not clear how far is Waymo to reach a balance point, much less profitability. Alphabet does not break down Waymo's finances in his profit report. Instead, Waymo is included in the “Other bets” section of Alphabet of his Balance Sheet, which in 2024 registered an operational loss of $ 1.2 billion.