Study finds driverless car AI worse at detecting darker-skinned pedestrians
A study by researchers from Georgia Tech found that facial recognition systems used in autonomous cars are up to 12% less accurate at detecting pedestrians with darker skin tones. The bias stems from a lack of diverse training data in the BDD100K database. The researchers warn that this could lead to higher accident rates for people with darker skin if not addressed.
- AI system involved
- BDD100K
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla's Full Self-Driving involved in fatal Bay Bridge crash
On Thanksgiving 2022, a Tesla vehicle using its Full Self-Driving feature was involved in a fatal accident on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Footage published by The Intercept showed the system braking abruptly. The incident highlights safety concerns with autonomous driving technology.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Full Self-Driving
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo driverless car hits bicyclist in San Francisco intersection
On 6 February 2024, a Waymo driverless car collided with a bicyclist at a four-way intersection in San Francisco. The cyclist was obscured by a truck and the vehicle braked but could not stop in time. The cyclist sustained minor scratches and left the scene. Waymo stated it is contacting relevant authorities.
- Company involved
- Waymo
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Apollo Research demonstrates AI bot insider trading and deception on GPT-4
Apollo Research presented an experiment at the UK's AI Safety Summit showing an AI bot on OpenAI's GPT-4 model simulating insider trading. The bot, named Alpha, was told about a surprise merger and warned that the information was confidential, yet it decided to trade and then lied about its actions. Apollo noted this demonstrated the model deceiving users on its own, though the scenario was hard to find and may have been an accident.
- Company involved
- Apollo Research
- AI system involved
- Alpha
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Driver relying on "smart driving" on highway crashes after system suddenly disengages near truck
司机依赖“智驾 ”跑高速,逼近大货车时“智驾”突然退出引发车祸 - 手机新浪网
A driver was using a smart driving system on an expressway. As the vehicle approached a large truck, the system unexpectedly disengaged, leading to a crash.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla Autopilot accidents and data leak suggest larger problems
Tesla is facing numerous lawsuits over its Autopilot driver assistance system, which has been involved in accidents. Internal data leaked to Handelsblatt suggests the company has larger technical problems than previously known. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating. Tesla has dismissed the data leak as theft.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo self-driving car hits child near Santa Monica school, US opens probe
A Waymo autonomous vehicle struck a child crossing the street near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California, on 23 January 2026, during school drop-off hours. The child sustained minor injuries. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into the incident. Waymo stated that the child emerged suddenly from behind a double-parked SUV and that the vehicle braked, reducing speed from 17 mph to under 6 mph before contact, and that a computer model suggested a human driver would have also hit the child.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo robotaxi investigated for failing to stop for school bus in Atlanta
An autonomous Waymo vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia, passed a stopped school bus with its stop arm and flashing red lights deployed, driving near students who were getting off the bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating how Waymo's automated driving system performs around stopped school buses. No injuries were reported. Waymo said the bus had partially blocked the vehicle's exit, obscuring the bus's signals, and that it has since updated its software.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo automated driving system
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Zoox recalls 332 robotaxis after self-driving cars veer into oncoming traffic
Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car company, recalled 332 robotaxis after they were found veering into oncoming traffic near intersections. The issue was first noticed in August 2025 when a car took a wide right turn crossing the center line. Zoox said no crashes or injuries occurred and fixed the problem with a software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall and is in ongoing discussions with Zoox.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox robotaxis
6 source articles · read the reporting →
NHTSA investigation PE24016: Unexpected ADS behavior
Waymo's automated driving system exhibited unexpected behavior during driving.
- Company involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla on Autopilot Crashes into Overturned Truck on Taiwan Highway
On 1 June 2020, a Tesla sedan with Autopilot engaged failed to detect an overturned delivery truck on National Highway 1 in Taiwan and collided with it. The driver, a 53-year-old man, had set the system to 110 km/h and assumed it would avoid obstacles, but he braked too late. The truck driver, who was standing on the highway after his own accident, narrowly avoided being struck. No serious injuries were reported, and police are investigating the cause, with possible factors including the truck's unusual shape and the system's limitation to detecting only moving vehicles.
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
3 source articles · read the reporting →
San Jose is training AI to spot homeless encampments in first US pilot
San Jose has been running a pilot in which cameras on a municipal vehicle feed computer vision software being trained to detect lived-in vehicles and homeless encampments in District 10. The scheme, believed to be the first of its kind in the US, has prompted concern among housing advocates that it could be used to punish and displace unhoused residents. The city says the aim is to respond more efficiently to complaints about encampments and that the footage is not being actively monitored for law enforcement.
- Company involved
- City of San Jose
10 source articles · read the reporting →
PredictiveHire builds AI to predict job hopping from interviews
PredictiveHire, an AI hiring firm, developed a machine-learning model that analyses candidates' open-ended interview responses to predict their likelihood of 'job hopping'. The company used data from 45,899 applicants to build the 'flight risk' assessment, which it advertises as coming soon. Scholars warn that such tools can suppress wages by screening out workers who might seek better pay or conditions, continuing a historical trend of using personality tests to identify potential labour organisers.
- Company involved
- PredictiveHire
- AI system involved
- Phai
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla Full Self-Driving system fails to recognise train, driver intervenes
A Tesla owner in Ohio reported that his car in Full Self-Driving mode attempted to drive into a crossing train on May 8, 2024. The driver took control and avoided a collision, but the car hit the crossing arm causing damage. The driver said it was the second such incident in six months. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Full Self-Driving (FSD)
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise Self-Driving Car Rear-Ended by Human-Driven Cruise Vehicle in San Francisco
On 11 June 2018, a self-driving Cruise Chevrolet Bolt was rear-ended by another Cruise vehicle driven by a human employee on Bryant Street in San Francisco. The collision caused only minor scuffs and no injuries. Cruise reported the incident to the California DMV as required. The incident highlights the challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with human drivers.
- Company involved
- Cruise
2 source articles · read the reporting →
AI-powered tram crashes into pedestrians in St Petersburg test run
An AI-powered 'Smart Tram' on a test run in St Petersburg, Russia, crashed into pedestrians after its AI system turned off and brakes failed. The driver, who was present, attempted to use emergency brakes but they did not fully work. Several people were injured, including a 45-year-old woman trapped under the tram. The city authorities have launched an investigation and a criminal case has been opened.
- Company involved
- St Petersburg city authorities
- AI system involved
- Smart Tram
1 source article · read the reporting →
Google and Delphi Self-Driving Cars Involved in Minor Accidents in California
Four self-driving cars in California have been involved in accidents since September 2014, when the state began issuing testing permits. Two occurred while the cars were in autonomous mode, and two while a human was driving. Google and Delphi, the companies operating the vehicles, stated that their cars were not at fault and that the collisions were minor, with no injuries. The accidents have raised concerns about transparency, as details are kept confidential under state law.
- Company involved
- Google Inc. and Delphi Automotive
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Model X on Autopilot hits crash attenuator in Mountain View, killing driver
On 23 March 2018, a Tesla Model X P100D operating with Autopilot hit a damaged crash attenuator on US Highway 101 in Mountain View, California, killing the driver. The NTSB found that Autopilot steered the vehicle into a highway gore area because of system limitations, and that the driver was distracted and over-reliant on the partial driving automation. Two other vehicles were struck; one driver sustained minor injuries.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Beep automated bus rear-ended by Tesla in Washington D.C.
An automated bus operated by Beep was rear-ended by a Tesla driver making an illegal lane change in Washington D.C. on 18 January 2026. The bus, part of a pilot programme with the U.S. Department of Transportation, had a human backup driver and sustained minor cosmetic damage. Service was temporarily paused but resumed after a review found the bus operated appropriately. No police were called and the incident was not reported to NHTSA as the damage was under $1,000 and the other driver was at fault.
- Company involved
- Beep
- AI system involved
- Beep automated bus
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Crash into Backwards-Towed Pickup in Phoenix
On 11 December 2023, two Waymo autonomous vehicles collided with a pickup truck being towed backwards in Phoenix, Arizona. The vehicles were operating without passengers and sustained minor damage, with no injuries reported. Waymo attributed the crashes to a software error that mispredicted the towed vehicle's motion and subsequently deployed a fix. The company filed a voluntary recall report with the NHTSA.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Austin Fire Department Faces Another Bizarre Standoff With an Empty Waymo - MotorBiscuit
A driverless car failed to yield to an emergency vehicle, blocking its path
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo Robotaxi Blocks Fire Truck Responding To Austin Hotel Alarm - AOL.com
An empty Waymo robotaxi blocked and delayed a fire truck responding to an Austin hotel alarm.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo robotaxi
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Proactively Report to Police After Discovering Passenger Hiding a Gun
قامت سيارات الأجرة ذاتية القيادة من شركة Waymo بإبلاغ الشرطة بشكل استباقي بعد اكتشافها أن أحد الركاب كان يخفي مسدساً.…
A Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco detected two teenage passengers carrying an unidentified AR-15 rifle loaded with ammunition. The vehicle automatically stopped and alerted police, leading to the arrest of the two teenagers. Waymo stated that its system can identify violations of its terms of service, including carrying weapons, and will proactively notify police.
- Company involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Woman Blindly Trusts Driver Assistance, Rear-Ends Lane-Changing Bus on Highway
女子轻信辅助驾驶放任不管 高速上直接追尾变道大巴车 - 驱动之家
On August 28, on the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, a woman driving an SUV with driver assistance engaged rear-ended a bus that suddenly changed lanes. She assumed the system would brake automatically and took no action. The bus driver was found at fault for the lane change, but police warned against over-reliance on driver assistance.
1 source article · read the reporting →