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Robotaxi drives off from airport with passenger’s suitcase

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Robotaxi drives off from airport with passenger’s suitcase

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Taking a driverless robotaxi to the airport still feels a bit scary for many people. Riders get into the vehicle and may find themselves intently watching the steering wheel move on its own, hoping with every turn that the trip goes as smoothly as the company promises. But for one California passenger, the ride ended with a very real travel nightmare.

Di Jin reportedly took his first Waymo ride from Sunnyvale, California, to San José Mineta International Airport for a business trip.

The ride itself seemed to go smoothly. Then he got to the airport and tried to grab his suitcase from the trunk. That is when things went sideways.

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WHY LAST YEAR’S BREACH IS THIS YEAR’S IDENTITY FRAUD

A Waymo robotaxi drove off with a passenger’s suitcase after a failed trunk release at a California airport. (Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Waymo drove off with his suitcase at the airport drop-off

Jin told reporters that he got out of the Waymo at the airport and tried to open the trunk. He said he pressed the trunk button, but nothing happened. Then, he said, the driverless car pulled away with his suitcase still inside. That left him standing at the airport without his bag, his change of clothes or his work notes.

For anyone who travels for work, that is the kind of moment that makes your stomach drop. You are watching your ride disappear, but there is no driver to flag down. There is no person at the wheel to hear you. There is only the app, the support line and a car that may already be heading somewhere else.

What Waymo reportedly told the passenger

Jin said he called Waymo customer service right away. According to reports on the incident, he was told the vehicle was already on its way to a depot and could not be turned around. Later, Waymo reportedly emailed him to say his luggage had been safely secured at a Waymo depot.

That solved one part of the problem. The suitcase was found. But getting it back became another headache. Waymo is said to have initially offered to send the luggage to him, but would not cover shipping or courier fees. The company also reportedly offered him two free rides so he could go to and from the depot himself.

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Jin pushed back. He said the situation was not his mistake. Waymo eventually agreed to cover the shipping cost, and Jin accepted that solution.

Waymo’s response to the suitcase incident

Waymo did not comment on the specific incident when contacted by CyberGuy. However, Waymo’s own help pages explain how the trunk is supposed to work. The company says riders can open the trunk by pressing the trunk release button above the license plate or by tapping “Open trunk” in the app. Waymo also says that at the rider’s destination, the trunk will automatically open when the rider exits the vehicle. Waymo also notes that the trunk may not open if a rider exits before the vehicle has officially pulled over and ended the trip.

Waymo’s lost and found page also says its support team will try to reunite riders with items left in a vehicle. Although the company says it cannot guarantee that items will be found, delivered immediately or returned undamaged. Waymo also says it isn’t responsible for items left behind after a trip ends and does not provide reimbursement for the value of lost items.

That policy is exactly why this story is getting attention. Jin’s issue was not simply that he forgot a bag. His claim is that he tried to retrieve it and could not get the trunk open before the vehicle left.

Why the Waymo suitcase story hits a nerve

Airport trips already come with enough stress. You are watching the clock. You are thinking about security lines, boarding time and whether you packed your charger. Now add a driverless car that leaves with your suitcase. The technology may be advanced, but the problem is incredibly ordinary. A passenger needed his bag, the trunk did not open as expected, and customer support became the only option.

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With a human driver, you might knock on the trunk, wave or ask them to wait. With a robotaxi, the whole experience depends on software, sensors, app controls and remote support. Most riders may never have a problem. Still, when something does go wrong at an airport, a small glitch can turn into a major travel mess.

Waymo airport rides are becoming more common

Waymo has been expanding its airport service, and San José Mineta International Airport became a key part of that push in November 2025, when SJC announced it was the first commercial, international airport in California to offer fully autonomous ride-hailing to travelers.

Waymo has also described airport service as a major step for its ride-hailing business. Waymo’s website lists several current and upcoming service areas, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, Austin and other cities. 

That makes customer support more important, not less. If driverless rides are going to become normal for airport travel, riders need to know what happens when the trip doesn’t go smoothly.

AI AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM PROMISES FEWER FLIGHT DELAYS

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A traveler says a driverless Waymo left him stranded at the airport without his luggage after the trunk would not open. (Photo by Camden Hall/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What this means to you

If you use a Waymo or any robotaxi for an airport ride, treat the trip as unfinished until every bag is in your hand. Do not assume the trunk will open automatically. Keep the app open as you arrive. Tap the trunk button before you fully walk away from the car. If the trunk does not open, contact support right away and stay near the vehicle if it is safe to do so.

Also, think carefully about what goes in the trunk. Keep your wallet, passport, medication, laptop, keys and work documents with you in the cabin. A suitcase can be replaced. Your ID, prescriptions or work files can create a much bigger problem. This doesn’t mean you should avoid Waymo. We’re not saying that. It just means you should understand the limits of a driverless system before using one for a time-sensitive trip.

How to avoid losing luggage in a robotaxi

If you are using a driverless ride for an airport trip, a few small habits can help prevent a suitcase problem from becoming a travel disaster.

1) Keep essentials inside the cabin

Put your ID, wallet, medication, laptop and chargers in a small bag that stays with you. Do not place anything critical in the trunk.

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2) Open the trunk before ending the ride

At drop-off, use the app or trunk release button before you close the door and step away. Make sure the suitcase is out before you move on.

3) Keep the app open on arrival

Do not lock your phone or put it away as you pull up to the terminal. You may need the app to open the trunk or contact support.

4) Take a quick photo of your luggage

If you put a bag in the trunk, take a quick photo before the ride starts. That can help if you need to describe what was inside the vehicle.

5) Report the problem immediately

If your belongings remain inside the car, contact support right away. Waymo says its support team can help with lost items, though it does not guarantee immediate delivery or reimbursement.

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AIRPORT ROBOTS HANDLE BAGGAGE IN TOKYO TRIAL

A California man’s first Waymo ride ended in chaos when the robotaxi departed with his suitcase still inside. (Camden Hall/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Driverless taxis are becoming part of everyday travel. For many riders, they are convenient, quiet and surprisingly normal after a few minutes. But airport rides are different. People are rushed. A suitcase can hold your work laptop, medication, clothes and the things you need as soon as you land. A short delay can cause a missed flight, a lost meeting or a very expensive replacement run. That is what makes this story stand out. Waymo’s cars may drive themselves, but the company still has to handle messy human problems quickly. When a trunk does not open, riders need more than a policy page. They need fast help, clear answers and a solution that does not make them feel blamed for a system failure. The future success of robotaxis will take more than safe driving. Companies also need to respond quickly when something goes wrong.

Would you trust a driverless taxi with your suitcase on the way to the airport, or would you keep every bag with you inside the vehicle until you reached the curb? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Apple’s entry-level MacBook Pro could be up for a redesign

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Apple’s entry-level MacBook Pro could be up for a redesign

Apple is working on a “revamped” version of its entry-level MacBook Pro that it could launch as soon as the first half of 2027, Bloomberg reports. The company is also testing four new iPad Pros that are set to launch in the spring with a focus on “internal improvements.”

The updated MacBook Pro, which will keep the 14-inch screen size, will have a design that’s “in line” with what Apple is planning for the touch screen MacBooks it also has in the works, Bloomberg says. Those new touch screen laptops are set to be released between “the end of this year and early next year,” and Bloomberg has previously reported that they will get a Dynamic Island-like pill at the top of the screen.

Apple last updated the base MacBook Pro in October with an M5 chip bump. The company is working on an M6 processor, and Bloomberg says that Apple “finished work months ago” a different base MacBook Pro upgrade that keeps the laptop’s present design and is scheduled to launch this year. Apple will quickly move to the M7 line in 2027, including new Pro and Max chips, Bloomberg previously reported.

As for the iPad Pros, Bloomberg says that they’ll retain 11-inch and 13-inch screens. Apple last updated the iPad Pro line last October with the M5 chip.

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A missing kitten rode under a car hood. AI brought her home

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A missing kitten rode under a car hood. AI brought her home

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Ame thought Lucy might be hiding upstairs. The family’s kitten had missed dinner, which felt odd. Still, cats hide. They nap in strange places. Sometimes, they ignore everyone.

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But when breakfast came the next morning, Lucy still did not show up. “When we fed dinner one night, and she didn’t come running, I thought maybe she was upstairs in the kids’ bedroom, but when we fed breakfast the next morning, she didn’t come running again, so then I knew for sure she wasn’t in the house,” Ame said.

That is when a normal morning in Dayton, Ohio, turned into a frantic search. Lucy was less than a year old. Ame’s two young children were devastated. And wherever Lucy had gone, her family knew she had already spent the night away from home.

“If she had been out all night, we were really worried,” Ame said. Ame’s daughter, Evi, felt that fear immediately. “I was really sad and cried a lot. It was really heartbreaking,” Evi said.

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PRO WRESTLING STAR KILLER KROSS SHARES SWEET, LIFE-ALTERING MOMENT WHEN A CAT CAME INTO HIS LIFE

A missing Ohio kitten survived a ride under the hood of a stranger’s car before AI photo-matching technology helped reunite her with her family in just over 24 hours. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)

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Ame uploaded Lucy’s photo and got a match

After the first wave of searching, Ame turned to Petco Love Lost. “I found out about Petco Love Lost through a friend of mine who also had a cat go missing. She said Petco Love Lost is a website where you can match from finders who have uploaded pictures of pets that they’ve found,” Ame said.

Ame created a lost pet profile and uploaded Lucy’s picture. The free nationwide database uses AI photo-matching technology to compare lost pet photos with found pet reports. Petco Love says the system looks at more than 500 visual markers to identify pets by features that stay with them wherever they go.

Then came the lead Ame needed. “It was actually very easy and quick. It was only about 10 or 12 hours before I got a lead on where Lucy might be,” Ame said.

A finder had listed a cat who looked like Lucy as found. Soon after, Ame received a photo match alert.

The price surprised her, too. “I was really surprised that Petco Love Lost is not subscription-based like most things are. It’s completely free, so it’s accessible to everyone,” she said. For a family already scared and stressed, that free access made a big difference.

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Lucy was found under a car hood

Then Ame learned where Lucy had gone. “She was stuck under the hood of somebody’s car. This person had driven to a shopping center across the highway, got out of their car and heard meowing and realized that the meowing was coming from under the hood of their car,” Ame said.

The driver got Lucy out safely. Thankfully, the kitten had not been hurt. The finder kept Lucy safe and uploaded her photo to Petco Love Lost as a found pet. That report connected with Ame’s lost pet profile.

From there, Ame could finally arrange the reunion her family had been hoping for. “I connected with the finder on Petco Love Lost and was able to message back and forth. We organized a time to meet up and we were just ecstatic, and overjoyed, and in shock that we actually found her and also that we found her so quickly and in such a short space of time. Having Lucy home is a relief,” Ame said. Ame’s family brought Lucy home a little more than 24 hours after she disappeared.

The reunion brought happy tears

For Ame’s children, Lucy’s return changed the whole mood in the house. Ame’s daughter, Evi, went from heartbreak to happy tears. “When she was found, my mom put her on my lap. I was having a little bit of some happy tears,” Evi said.

Then came the sentence every pet parent wants to hear after a scare like this. “When Lucy was found, I was so happy to have her back,” Evi said.

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That is the kind of reunion that sticks with you. A tiny kitten vanished, rode under a car hood, crossed a highway and still made it home because a finder uploaded one photo.

WOMAN’S CANCER BATTLE TAKES UNBELIEVABLE TURN WHEN HER DOG GETS SAME DIAGNOSIS

An Ohio family found their missing kitten after Petco Love Lost matched a photo uploaded by a good Samaritan who discovered Lucy under a car hood. (Photo credit should read Inna Borodayeva/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Why Petco Love Lost worked when the microchip did not

Lucy’s story also shows why lost pet searches need more than one safety step. The finder tried to get Lucy scanned for a microchip. But that did not solve the problem.

“The finder took her to scan the microchip, they couldn’t even find it, they couldn’t locate it. Petco Love Lost was literally the only link between us and Lucy to get her back,” Ame said.

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That is important because many pet parents assume a microchip will always lead straight home. A microchip can help, but someone still needs access to a scanner. The chip also has to be found and connected to current contact details.

Petco Love Lost adds another option. Instead of relying only on tags or a scan, it uses a pet’s photo and physical features. Chelsea Staley, president of Petco Love, explains it this way: “Collars break, tags can fall off, and microchip scanners aren’t always immediately accessible. Petco Love Lost offers an additional layer of protection by using AI to recognize distinctive physical features that stay with pets wherever they go. You know your pet is one of a kind, and so does Petco Love Lost.” In Lucy’s case, that extra layer helped bring her back.

Why Lucy’s story matters during National Lost Pet Prevention Month

Lucy’s story hits at a time when many pet parents need the reminder. July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month. The month also brings holiday fireworks, which can scare pets and send them running. Petco Love says more pets go missing during the summer than during any other time of year, and fireworks help drive that spike. That makes Lucy’s story a good reminder to prepare before your pet bolts.

Petco Love encourages pet parents to register their pets on Petco Love Lost at petcolove.org/lost/register-pet/ while they are safe at home. Then, if something goes wrong, they can activate a search with a single click. Set it up before the fireworks start. Check it before guests come over. Take care of it before someone says, “I thought the cat was upstairs.”

What this means to you

A lost pet search can turn emotional really fast. You may be scared, tired and unsure where to start. Lucy’s story shows why preparation can help. Ame already had a clear photo of Lucy. She created a lost pet profile. Then a finder uploaded a found pet report, and the system connected them.

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That does not mean you should skip collars, ID tags or microchips. Keep those in place. However, Petco Love Lost can give you another way to search when those tools do not work fast enough. The biggest lesson is timing. Registering your pet while everything is calm can save precious time later.

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RIDGLAN FARMS RESCUE BEAGLES FIND NEW LIFE HELPING VETERANS OVERCOME WAR TRAUMA WITH PAWS OF WAR

A free AI-powered lost pet database helped an Ohio family reunite with their kitten after traditional microchip identification failed. (Photo by:Marco Simonini/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Lucy’s story could have ended badly. She slipped out, hid under a car hood and rode across a highway without the driver knowing she was there. Instead, one uploaded photo helped bring her home. Petco Love Lost matched Lucy’s image with Ame’s lost pet profile, and the family had her back in a little more than 24 hours. That to me is the reason this story is worth sharing. Technology can feel cold, but in this case, it helped a family get their kitten back.

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Have you ever had a pet go missing, and what helped bring them home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Comcast’s split could make or break Peacock

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Comcast’s split could make or break Peacock

NBCUniversal executives are about to find out whether Peacock will sink or swim in the streaming industry. Now that Comcast is planning to split NBCUniversal, Peacock, and Sky from its broadband and wireless businesses, Peacock will be forced to stand on its own — without the backing of a combined company that pulled in more than $123 billion last year.

In the years following its launch in 2020, Peacock was treated as an accessory to an Xfinity subscription. But once Xfinity stopped offering it as a perk and axed its free membership tier in 2023, it was a sign that Comcast believed Peacock had something worth paying for. But even with exclusive streams of the Olympics and live sports, like Sunday Night Football and the Big Ten games, Peacock still trails behind rival streamers today.

Peacock grew by just five million subscribers between March 2025 and March 2026, bringing it up to 46 million. Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers easily eclipse Peacock’s user base. Even Disney Plus’s 132 million subscribers and HBO Max’s more than 140 million viewers make Peacock seem small in comparison. Part of that is because, unlike other major streamers, Peacock is only available in the US. Comcast co-CEO Mike Cavanagh said in March that the company doesn’t have plans for a global rollout of Peacock, but that may change as the soon-to-be standalone service scrambles for scale.

It’s also taking longer for Peacock to hop the hurdle of profitability — one of the biggest challenges for streamers. Peacock reported $2 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2026. However, it experienced $432 million in losses, an increase from the $215 million it reported losing at the same time last year. But NBCUniversal media chairman Matt Strauss claims Peacock will become profitable in the current quarter, according to Deadline. “There’s not one way to approach a streaming strategy or market,” Strauss said during the Evercore Global TMT Conference last month. “Sometimes you have to play to your strengths, which is what we’ve been doing.”

It’s not clear how long Peacock can rely on live sports and reality TV to keep its service afloat. The service canceled its hit series Poker Face last year, leaving it without a tentpole series that makes Peacock worth subscribing to, like Severance on Apple TV or White Lotus on HBO Max. Though Comcast co-CEO Brian Roberts and Cavanagh told investors that the company’s split isn’t a setup for a merger or acquisition, it still seems like a possibility.

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Peter Supino, a Wolfe Research analyst, said that he expects “one or both Comcast units to merge with peers or competitors,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Media executives who spoke to Oliver Darcy for his Status newsletter are similarly doubtful about Roberts’ and Cavanagh’s M&A denials, with some insiders speculating that Netflix could make a bid for NBCUniversal’s assets. Either way, Peacock will need to do something more than just tread water, or else a competitor may just have to keep it from sinking.

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