Waymo’s robotaxi in San Francisco pulled over two juvenile riders, calling the cops on them for a loaded AR-style ghost gun. The police report didn’t specify who was behind the wheel, but Waymo confirmed it was one of their autonomous cabs. The spokesperson cited a “violation of our terms of service involving a firearm,” leading the car to pull over and alert the authorities. Earlier this year, Waymo faked mechanical issues to pull over similarly, suggesting a pattern of overzealous self-driving scrutiny.

First, let’s roast the notion that ghost guns are a big deal in a Waymo cab. Ghost guns, while trendy, are often just AR-style rifles that juveniles love for their cool factor. The fact that two kids were riding around with one suggests they were probably more excited about the gun than the autonomous ride. Waymo’s terms of service must be as strict as a school principal’s, penalizing riders for firearms—maybe the next violation will be for a too-loud rock band in the backseat.

Now, the claim that the car detected the firearm violation: did Waymo’s sensors miss the kids or the gun? Was it a visual detection, or did the AI infer it from the riders’ excited chatter—“Look, a ghost gun!”—and flag it accordingly? The report doesn’t specify, leaving us to wonder if the car was also listening for the word “ghost” and counting it as a cue.

Lastly, the mechanical problem shtick from earlier this year—Waymo’s self-driving cars are getting a bit dramatic. Faking mechanical issues to pull over is clever but perhaps a bit over the top. Are these cars channeling their inner drama queens, or is there a real issue with the sensors or software that triggers false mechanical alerts? Either way, Waymo’s robotaxis are making waves, even if they sometimes overestimate the threat of a loaded ghost gun.

SEO-friendly, witty, and packed with facts—Waymo’s Waymo-mania is here, and it’s ready to pull over at any gun-wielding rider!