Technology
Waymo under federal investigation after child struck
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Federal safety regulators are once again taking a hard look at self-driving cars after a serious incident involving Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet.
This time, the investigation centers on a Waymo vehicle that struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, during morning drop-off hours. The crash happened Jan. 23 and raised immediate questions about how autonomous vehicles behave around children, school zones and unpredictable pedestrian movement.
On Jan. 29, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed it had opened a new preliminary investigation into Waymo’s automated driving system.
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Waymo operates Level 4 self-driving vehicles in select U.S. cities, where the car controls all driving tasks without a human behind the wheel. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)
What happened near the Santa Monica school?
According to documents posted by NHTSA, the crash occurred within two blocks of an elementary school during normal drop-off hours. The area was busy. There were multiple children present, a crossing guard on duty and several vehicles double-parked along the street.
Investigators say the child ran into the roadway from behind a double-parked SUV while heading toward the school. The Waymo vehicle struck the child, who suffered minor injuries. No safety operator was inside the vehicle at the time.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation is now examining whether the autonomous system exercised appropriate caution given its proximity to a school zone and the presence of young pedestrians.
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Federal investigators are now examining whether Waymo’s automated system exercised enough caution near a school zone during morning drop-off hours. (Waymo)
Why federal investigators stepped in
The NHTSA says the investigation will focus on how Waymo’s automated driving system is designed to behave in and around school zones, especially during peak pickup and drop-off times.
That includes whether the vehicle followed posted speed limits, how it responded to visual cues like crossing guards and parked vehicles and whether its post-crash response met federal safety expectations. The agency is also reviewing how Waymo handled the incident after it occurred.
Waymo said it voluntarily contacted regulators the same day as the crash and plans to cooperate fully with the investigation. In a statement, the company said it remains committed to improving road safety for riders and everyone sharing the road.
Waymo responds to the federal investigation
We reached out to Waymo for comment, and the company provided the following statement:
“At Waymo, we are committed to improving road safety, both for our riders and all those with whom we share the road. Part of that commitment is being transparent when incidents occur, which is why we are sharing details regarding an event in Santa Monica, California, on Friday, January 23, where one of our vehicles made contact with a young pedestrian. Following the event, we voluntarily contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that same day. NHTSA has indicated to us that they intend to open an investigation into this incident, and we will cooperate fully with them throughout the process.
“The event occurred when the pedestrian suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV, moving directly into our vehicle’s path. Our technology immediately detected the individual as soon as they began to emerge from behind the stopped vehicle. The Waymo Driver braked hard, reducing speed from approximately 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact was made.
“To put this in perspective, our peer-reviewed model shows that a fully attentive human driver in this same situation would have made contact with the pedestrian at approximately 14 mph. This significant reduction in impact speed and severity is a demonstration of the material safety benefit of the Waymo Driver.
“Following contact, the pedestrian stood up immediately, walked to the sidewalk and we called 911. The vehicle remained stopped, moved to the side of the road and stayed there until law enforcement cleared the vehicle to leave the scene.
This event demonstrates the critical value of our safety systems. We remain committed to improving road safety where we operate as we continue on our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”
Understanding Waymo’s autonomy level
Waymo vehicles fall under Level 4 autonomy on NHTSA’s six-level scale.
At Level 4, the vehicle handles all driving tasks within specific service areas. A human driver is not required to intervene, and no safety operator needs to be present inside the car. However, these systems do not operate everywhere and are currently limited to ride-hailing services in select cities.
The NHTSA has been clear that Level 4 vehicles are not available for consumer purchase, even though passengers may ride inside them.
This is not Waymo’s first federal probe
This latest investigation follows a previous NHTSA evaluation that opened in May 2024. That earlier probe examined reports of Waymo vehicles colliding with stationary objects like gates, chains and parked cars. Regulators also reviewed incidents in which the vehicles appeared to disobey traffic control devices.
That investigation was closed in July 2025 after regulators reviewed the data and Waymo’s responses. Safety advocates say the new incident highlights unresolved concerns.
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No safety operator was inside the vehicle at the time of the crash, raising fresh questions about how autonomous cars handle unpredictable situations involving children. (Waymo)
What this means for you
If you live in a city where self-driving cars operate, this investigation matters more than it might seem. School zones are already high-risk areas, even for attentive human drivers. Autonomous vehicles must be able to detect unpredictable behavior, anticipate sudden movement and respond instantly when children are present.
This case will likely influence how regulators set expectations for autonomous driving systems near schools, playgrounds and other areas with vulnerable pedestrians. It could also shape future rules around local oversight, data reporting and operational limits for self-driving fleets.
For parents, commuters and riders, the outcome may affect where and when autonomous vehicles are allowed to operate.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Self-driving technology promises safer roads, fewer crashes and less human error. But moments like this remind us that the hardest driving scenarios often involve human unpredictability, especially when children are involved. Federal investigators now face a crucial question: Did the system act as cautiously as it should have in one of the most sensitive driving environments possible? How they answer that question could help define the next phase of autonomous vehicle regulation in the United States.
Do you feel comfortable sharing the road with self-driving cars near schools, or is that a line technology should not cross yet? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered his final WWDC keynote as Apple CEO, announcing smarter features included in the tech company’s next big software update. (Josh Edelson / AFP via Getty Images)
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Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– 12 biggest Apple WWDC 2026 takeaways you need to know
– California city votes to permanently ban data centers in first-of-its-kind measure
– Meta launches $115M skilled trades academy with guaranteed jobs for graduates in 4 states
SIRI UPGRADE: Apple used WWDC 2026, its annual developers conference, to lay out what is coming next for your iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. This year’s keynote also carried extra weight because it marked Tim Cook’s final WWDC as Apple CEO before John Ternus takes over in September. Still, the biggest story for users was software. Apple put Siri AI and Apple Intelligence at the center of the keynote, while also announcing iOS 27 support for older iPhones, new child safety tools, faster performance and smarter features across everyday apps.
Attendees watch a presentation during Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino, California, on June 8, 2026. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)
POWER GRID LOCK: Voters in a Southern California city overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that permanently prohibits data centers within city limits, underscoring growing local resistance to the infrastructure powering the artificial intelligence boom. Monterey Park voters approved Measure NDC by a margin of 10,321 votes to 1,362 votes, or 88.34%, according to official election results from Los Angeles County.
WORKFORCE WIN: Tech giant Meta on Monday announced that it’s launching a new academy for workers to receive training in a skilled trade at no cost with a job guaranteed for all graduates.
RED THREAT: Sen. Tom Cotton urged the Justice Department to investigate a covert campaign linked to China designed to “kneecap” America’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure in a letter obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., arrives for a vote in the U.S. Capitol on April 30, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
LABOR RECKONING: U.S. employers ramped up layoffs in May as the artificial intelligence (AI) rollout was the leading factor cited by companies cutting their workforces, new data shows.
WHO IS THIS? Your phone rings. It’s your son’s voice. Panicked. He says he’s been in a car accident. He hurt someone. He’s about to be arrested. He needs $15,000 wired before the end of the day, and please, don’t tell anyone yet. You’d wire the money. Of course you would. Except it isn’t your son. It’s a scammer who spent about 10 minutes online, pulled three seconds of audio from a Facebook video your son posted last Christmas, and fed it into an AI voice cloning tool that costs less than a Netflix subscription.
PRIVATE NO MORE? OpenAI said Monday it has taken a formal step toward a potential stock market debut, signaling that the artificial intelligence company is preparing for the possibility of becoming a publicly traded firm.
INTELLIGENCE QUESTIONS: Apple has spent years telling us that privacy starts on the device. For many users, that message feels reassuring. Your messages, photos, emails and app data sit in your hand, protected by Face ID, passcodes and Apple’s security layers. Now, new research gives Apple’s on-device AI a reality check.
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Memory is now the most expensive component in a smartphone. It’s more expensive than the processor, more expensive than the display, and can account for more than 50% of the total hardware bill.
For Phone (4a), memory costs doubled between when we decided to build the device and when it launched. They’ve doubled again since.
I posted about this earlier this year. It’s now playing out, faster than predicted.
Phone prices are going up, and they’ll keep going up into next year. Since February, new phones have been launching up to $100 more expensive than their predecessors. In India, phones above ₹30K have seen price jumps of ₹7,000 or more.
The natural instinct is to buy ahead. It doesn’t work that way. In a shortage, memory is allocated, not bought. You get what you’re given, at the current price.
If you’ve been waiting to upgrade a device, the best time was yesterday. The next best time is now. This year’s sale season won’t have the discounts people are used to.
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I know what you are thinking. Why on earth would Google want to release millions of mosquitoes? That was my first reaction too.
Usually, when we hear “Google” and “bugs” in the same sentence, we think about software. This time, the bugs are real.
Google’s Debug project is asking federal regulators for permission to release sterile male mosquitoes in New Jersey, California and Florida. The goal is to reduce mosquito populations that can spread disease.
Now the big question is whether this is a smart new way to fight mosquito-borne disease, or a tech-backed experiment that needs much more public scrutiny.
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Google Debug project workers. (Courtesy: Google Debug Project)
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How Google’s mosquito plan is supposed to work
Google’s Debug project says it is using science, automation and engineering to fight disease-carrying mosquitoes. The idea comes from a method called the sterile insect technique.
Here is the basic version. Scientists raise male mosquitoes that cannot produce viable offspring. Then they release those males into the wild. When the sterile males mate with wild females, the eggs do not hatch. Over time, the local mosquito population can shrink.
That part is important. Male mosquitoes do not bite. Female mosquitoes are the ones that bite and can spread disease. So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods. It is trying to release males that can help stop future generations from hatching.
Why Google wants to release mosquitoes
Google’s Debug project sees mosquito control as a public-health and technology challenge. The team says it wants to use engineering, automation and AI tools to reduce disease-carrying mosquito populations.
The idea is to stop “bad bugs” with “good bugs.” That may sound strange, but the science behind it has been studied for decades.
Sterile insect releases have been used against other pests, including fruit flies, screwworms and codling moths. Mosquitoes are harder. They are fragile, difficult to raise at a massive scale and challenging to sort by sex. That is where Debug says Google’s technology can help.
Why sorting male mosquitoes matters
Debug says the process starts by raising sterile male mosquitoes. One approach uses Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium found in many insects.
The bacteria can make males incompatible with wild females that do not carry the same Wolbachia strain. When they mate, the eggs fail to develop.
After that, Debug has to separate males from females. This step matters a lot. If the project releases too many females by mistake, the whole idea becomes much harder to trust.
That is where Google’s tech background comes in. Debug says its team is using sensors, algorithms, automation and monitoring tools to raise, sort, release and track mosquitoes at scale. In other words, this is mosquito control with a Silicon Valley twist.
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Debug Google facilities in Singapore. (Courtesy: Google Debug Project)
Why sterile male mosquitoes could help
Mosquito-borne diseases are a serious global health problem. Some mosquitoes can spread dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
Traditional mosquito control often depends on pesticides. Those can help, but they can also raise environmental concerns. Mosquitoes can also become harder to control over time.
That is why sterile male releases interest some researchers. The approach targets a specific mosquito population. It also avoids spraying more chemicals into the environment.
If it works, the local mosquito population drops because fewer eggs hatch. That could mean fewer disease risks in areas where these mosquitoes are a problem.
Why residents are worried about Google mosquitoes
Even with the science behind it, the public concern is easy to understand. Nobody likes the phrase “release millions of mosquitoes.” It sounds like the start of a bad summer, not a public-health project.
Some residents also worry about control. Once living insects are released, people want to know what happens next. They want to know who monitors the program, who pays for follow-up work and what happens if the results are not what scientists expected. Those are fair questions.
There is also a trust issue. A project like this can feel very different when a private tech giant is involved. People may support disease prevention and still feel uneasy about a corporation playing such a large role in local ecosystems.
The biggest challenge with sterile mosquito releases
The success of this idea depends on precision. Male mosquitoes do not bite. Female mosquitoes do. So the sorting process has to be extremely accurate.
Debug says it is working on technology to separate males from females quickly. That may include sensors, algorithms and engineering systems that spot biological differences between them.
However, this is the part many people will focus on. If the public is told only males will be released, they will want proof. They will also want clear oversight from regulators. When you are dealing with living insects, “close enough” isn’t the most reassuring phrase.
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Images of freshly-enclosed male and female mosquitoes marching in a straight line before they get sex sorted. (Courtesy: Google Debug Project)
What the EPA is reviewing
The EPA is reviewing Google’s request for an experimental use permit. The filing involves Wolbachia pipientis contained in live adult male mosquitoes.
The purpose is to test whether Debug’s male mosquitoes can mate with wild females and suppress the population.
The EPA will decide whether to approve or deny the request. If it approves the permit, it can also set conditions for how the project must operate.
What Google mosquitoes could mean for you
Even if you do not live in one of the proposed release areas, this is worth watching. If Google’s project works, more communities may look at sterile mosquito releases as another tool against disease. That could be good news in areas dealing with mosquito-borne illnesses.
At the same time, it raises a larger question. How much public-health work should depend on private companies with their own funding, technology and long-term goals? For many people, the science may sound promising. The setup may still feel uncomfortable. Both reactions can be true.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Google releasing mosquitoes may sound strange, but the goal is real public health. Debug wants to use sterile male mosquitoes to cut down populations that can spread disease. There is a reason scientists are interested. Male mosquitoes do not bite, and sterile insect releases have been studied for decades. Still, communities deserve more than a promise that everything will go as planned. They need clear answers about monitoring, safeguards, costs and what happens if the project fails. Fighting mosquito-borne disease is important. But once living insects are released into the wild, trust and oversight have to come first.
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Would you trust Google to help control mosquitoes in your community? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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