Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company Waymo may be developing a feature that allows robotaxi passengers to add a tip for charity, according to findings by a security researcher.
Jane Manchun Wong, known for uncovering unreleased app features, reported on X that she discovered the tipping option while reverse engineering Waymo’s Android app. The feature includes a button labeled “add a ‘tip’” and a dropdown menu where riders could select a charity to receive the donation.
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Waymo, the driverless car company, is working on… “tipping” ⁉️ pic.twitter.com/Lh8Xexa7PZ
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) January 28, 2025
A Waymo spokesperson declined to confirm the development, stating, “We explore unreleased features as part of our internal innovation process, and do not comment on them,” according to TechCrunch.
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Separately, Waymo has expanded testing of its driverless robotaxis in Los Angeles, deploying vehicles on major freeways such as Interstates 10, 110, 405, and 90. Unlike previous trials, these vehicles will operate without human safety drivers. The company plans to make the service available to employees first before opening it to the public.
