Waymo Robotaxis Grab a Bigger Slice of Rides, Quietly Reshaping Driver Labor

Waymo’s robotaxis accounted for about 15% of gross ride bookings in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and 16% in Phoenix in June, per Yipit, with shares remaining in the mid-teens as the service expands. The impact on human drivers is likely to show up first in utilization metrics (more idle time, longer waits, fewer trips per hour) rather than outright layoffs, since drivers are flexible independent workers. Measuring displacement is difficult due to data gaps and the gig-economy structure; industry voices suggest a gradual shift toward a hybrid future as AVs scale.