‘It doesn’t have a crossfire in its program’: Waymo robotaxi makes bizarre decision during LAPD standoff that leaves witnesses laughing nervously

A video went viral this week showing a self-driving Waymo car rolling right into the middle of an active police standoff in Los Angeles. The robotaxi surprised everyone watching, from people on the street to millions online.

According to Daily Dot, the video, recorded by someone nearby, shows the driverless car turning left and driving straight toward a line of armed officers. A suspect was lying face-down on the ground next to a truck during this tense moment. You can hear nervous laughter from people watching as the robotaxi drives through the scene like it wandered onto a movie set.

A police helicopter was flying overhead while officers shouted commands at the suspect. The Waymo car just kept moving through the chaos without stopping. Waymo quickly responded after the video spread on X and other platforms.

The self-driving car treated a dangerous standoff like regular traffic

A company spokesperson told the Daily Dot that the car was fully autonomous and carrying passengers in Los Angeles when this happened. The car found a street blocked by police vehicles, so its system turned into an area that wasn’t blocked, where other regular cars were also driving.

The spokesperson said safety is their top priority for riders and everyone on the streets. They confirmed the Waymo car was near the standoff for only 15 seconds before leaving the area. Waymo’s official response to the incident provided more details about how their system handled the situation.

This moment sparked a serious debate about how self-driving cars handle situations that can’t be fully programmed. During pure chaos, like an armed standoff, can the AI really make the best choice? The main problem is that the car was avoiding traffic well, but it didn’t seem to understand the high-danger situation around it.

Social media users had mixed reactions to the video. Some made jokes about the robotaxi’s bold confidence, while others questioned how the system understands danger. One user pointed out how absurd it looked, saying even the suspect on the ground was looking up at the Waymo, wondering why it drove through. Another joked that the car simply saw someone who needed a ride.

An X profile named “RT” shared the video with the caption “Waymo with passengers just drove into a middle of standoff. It doesn’t have a crossfire in its program – it guessed the best option is to go under the fire. The RoboCop we deserve.”

Not everyone found it funny though. Some accounts posted dramatic takes, with one claiming the car thought going through was the best option. The fact that passengers were inside the car makes this incident more serious than if it were empty.

This raises concerns about how surveillance systems monitor public spaces and how technology interprets dangerous situations. One user wondered if the car was thinking to itself when it slowed down in the intersection.