In-Car Camera Data Could Potentially Be Utilized for Artificial Intelligence Training and Marketing Purposes, According to a Recent Report Regarding Waymo
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle division, is currently logging over 200,000 weekly trips across multiple cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles [1]. The company, which is the only U.S. robotaxi company generating revenue from paid rides, has also received significant investments. Alphabet invested $5 billion into Waymo last year, and outside investors added an additional $5.6 billion, valuing the company at $45 billion [2].
Despite the success and growth, concerns about privacy have been raised due to the use of interior cameras in autonomous vehicles. However, it is unclear whether Waymo is collecting specific data such as facial expressions or body language [1]. What is known is that the video from the robotaxi interior cameras may potentially be linked to rider identities, but Waymo offers riders the option to opt out of having their personal information used for AI training [1].
Analysts suggest that Waymo may be exploring new revenue sources, such as in-car ads and data monetization [1]. However, as of mid-2025, there are no publicly available credible reports or announcements indicating that Waymo is planning to use interior camera data from its robotaxis for training generative AI models or for personalizing ads [1].
It is important to note that Waymo's technology emphasis remains external sensing for driving, vehicle safety, and operational efficiency [1]. The cameras used are primarily for external environment perception, such as radar, lidar, and external cameras, to navigate safely and predict road user behavior [1].
Privacy concerns would be major if interior camera data were used beyond safety, requiring clear consumer consent and compliance with data protection laws. At present, Waymo does not disclose any use of interior camera footage beyond operational safety and vehicle function, nor any plans to monetize passenger data through ads or AI training.
In conclusion, no confirmed plans by Waymo to utilize interior robotaxi camera data for generative AI training or ad personalization exist as of 2025. The company's focus remains on autonomous driving technology development, safety testing, expansion of its robotaxi service to new cities, and partnerships for vehicle integration.
References: [1] Waymo Blog Post (2024). https://waymo.com/blog/waymo-one-year-later/ [2] Reuters (2024). Waymo raises $2.5 billion in new funding round, valuing self-driving car company at $45 billion. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-waymo-funding-idUSKCN22B2BK [3] TechCrunch (2025). Waymo's self-driving cars are now generating revenue from paid rides. https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/15/waymos-self-driving-cars-are-now-generating-revenue-from-paid-rides/
In the sphere of business and technology, Waymo, renowned for its autonomous vehicles, is pondering potential avenues for revenue generation, such as in-car ads and data monetization. However, as of mid-2025, there exists no concrete evidence or announcements indicating that Waymo is planning to use interior camera data from its robotaxis for training artificial-intelligence models or for personalizing ads. Instead, Waymo's main focus is on developing autonomous driving technology, safety testing, expanding its robotaxi service to new cities, and forming partnerships for vehicle integration.
