WMV took a ride into tomorrow this week — literally. We booked a trip in a Waymo robotaxi to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants, and honestly, it is the chauffeur service we all deserve.
The sleek white Jaguar I-PACE pulled up, glowing our initials on top like we’d just unlocked a cheat code in Grand Theft Auto. The hardest part? Figuring out how to open the door. No handles, no driver, just us poking at the door, then looking app to press ‘open door’ like confused boomers until the car politely let us in. Once seated, the screen lit up: “Press Start.” We did — and just like that, the SUV took off, cool as a cucumber, reminding us to buckle up.
The ride was smoother than a Jay-Z on a Kanye beat. Lane changes, stops, and turns? Flawless. No sudden braking, no honking, and definitely no driver asking “So what do you do for a living?” Just us, the hum of the EV, and the ambient playlist. Speaking of playlists — this is where Waymo flexes. Since August 2025, Waymo and Spotify teamed up so you can connect your account and play your music through the robotaxi’s speakers. One click and boom: your road trip playlist, your embarrassing “Guilty Pleasures” playlist, or even that one Drake podcast. The car basically becomes your rolling Spotify Wrapped.
Our trip lasted eight minutes, covering what normally takes twenty. Eight minutes! That’s faster than your cousin says “I’m five minutes away” but still hasn’t left the house.
Of course, it’s not all perfect. Waymo costs more than Uber — about $4.85 to $5.99 more per ride on average according to a Obi, an app that aggregates real-time pricing and pick-up times across multiple ride-hailing services. So yes, it’s pricier, but you’re paying for safety, luxury, silence, and the bragging rights of saying, “Sorry, my car drives itself.”
Bottom line: the future isn’t coming — it’s already double-parking outside with your name in lights. And honestly? It drives better than humans who still text and drive.
