Source: The Verge
Summary
Waymo and Google Maps, two Alphabet-owned companies, are collaborating on a project to detect potholes using Waymo’s autonomous vehicles and share the data with cities. The goal is to help cities identify and repair road damage more efficiently. The project is part of a broader effort to improve road maintenance and reduce the economic impact of potholes.
Our Reading
The launch follows a familiar script.
Waymo and Google Maps are teaming up to detect potholes because, apparently, that’s not something we’ve been doing for decades. The “innovation” here is using autonomous vehicles to gather data, which will then be shared with cities. Because that’s exactly what cities need, more data. The project aims to “improve road maintenance” and “reduce the economic impact of potholes.” How novel.
Author: Evan Null
