Waymo Outsources Autonomy AI Jobs: America’s Roads Controlled from Foreign Countries

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, relies on remote “fleet response agents” to provide human guidance when its self-driving robotaxis encounter complex or unusual situations that the AI struggles to resolve independently, such as confusing road markings, construction zones, or unexpected obstacles.

In a February 2026 U.S. Senate hearing, Waymo’s Chief Safety Officer Mauricio Peña confirmed that some jobs are based in the United States, but most are in the Philippines.

These remote workers do not take direct control of the vehicle (they provide advisory input only, with the onboard software retaining responsibility for driving tasks), but the revelation sparked criticism from lawmakers who questioned the practice of outsourcing such critical support roles overseas rather than prioritizing U.S. citizens for jobs tied to American roads and public safety.

The use of Philippine-based employees highlights broader trends in cost optimization and global scaling for tech companies, as the Philippines has long been a major hub for business process outsourcing, remote technical support, and call-center operations due to its English-speaking workforce and lower labor costs. Critics, including senators like Ed Markey, have raised concerns about potential safety risks (such as latency in communications, cybersecurity vulnerabilities from international data links, and whether foreign operators fully understand U.S. traffic laws without local driver’s licenses), as well as the displacement of potential American jobs in an industry already disrupting domestic taxi and rideshare drivers. Waymo has defended the approach as part of efforts to expand operations globally, emphasizing that all operators undergo background checks, licensing requirements (where applicable), and training, though the company has not disclosed exact numbers or ratios of U.S. versus overseas staff.