Uber app to feature Waymo's self-driving taxis in Phoenix

Get ready to hail a Waymo’s autonomous vehicle through the Uber app in Phoenix. The former rivals announced on Tuesday a new partnership that will result in the availability of a “set number” of Waymo vehicles to Uber riders and Uber Eats customers later this year. The partnership is intended to bring together Waymo’s technology and Uber’s ride-hailing and delivery abilities. Although a spokesperson for Waymo did not disclose the number of vehicles involved in the initiative, it was clear the vehicles wouldn't be exclusive to Uber. In addition to using the Uber app, Phoenix residents can also order Waymo vehicles using the Waymo One app. Because of restrictions on how far driverless vehicles can travel, robotaxi services have encountered challenges, and some businesses have closed down altogether. However, human-driven services such as Uber and Lyft are not as limited. Anthony Levandowski, the founder of Otto and a former Google engineer, was found guilty of stealing Waymo's trade secrets and sentenced to 18 months in jail. Though he was later pardoned by former President Donald Trump.