Today, I rode in my very first fully autonomous vehicle in Phoenix. It was a fascinating experience. I wasn’t nervous—just curious. I paid close attention to the speed, lane changes, and overall driving patterns. The future is here.
The vehicle was a Waymo-operated Jaguar, equipped with monitors displaying real-time visuals of everything happening around the car—people, vehicles, obstacles. It was a smooth and calming ride. I can definitely see this being a primary mode of transportation in the future. It made me think about the impact this technology will have on car rentals, ownership, and even insurance.
On the return trip, I noticed one minor issue: when we passed another Waymo vehicle, it slowed down—not to a full stop, but noticeably.
One standout feature was the arrival time estimate, which adjusted every minute based on road conditions. I sat in the back seat, experiencing what felt like a new-age chauffeur. The car even recognized and adjusted for speed bumps.