Tesla is recruiting factory workers and sales staff to operate its 'Robotaxi' service

"Tesla is going all in on its "Robotaxi" service - and putting factory workers and sales staff in drivers' seats to make it happen. The electric-car maker has started recruiting workers off factory lines to operate its ride-hailing fleet. Tesla is offering production associates and material handlers extra hours and pay to take on the role of AI operator, according to posters that appeared at its California factories earlier this month."

"The AI operators sit in the driver's seat, actively monitoring the vehicle while Tesla's Full Self-Driving software is engaged, and taking over when needed. Tesla plans to eventually release the software as a fully autonomous service. The extra sets of hands will help the company expand ride-hailing availability in the Bay Area, the posters said. The posters, which also appeared in several engineering facilities, noted that staffers could earn $500 if they refer a friend for the AI operator role."

"Adding more operators could help Tesla speed up service. After Tesla rolled out its Robotaxi app to the public in September, wait times spiked, with some passengers reporting on social media wait times as long as 40 minutes and a lack of available vehicles. Business Insider's Alistair Barr said he's recently seen wait times around 10 minutes in the Bay Area, and during peak commuting times, the app at times says it cannot provide a ride due to "high service demand.""

Tesla is recruiting production associates, material handlers, and some sales staff to serve as AI operators who monitor Robotaxi vehicles while Full Self-Driving software is engaged and take over when needed. Posters at California factories and engineering facilities offer extra hours, pay, and a $500 referral bonus for operator recruits. Some sales staff moved into operator roles in Las Vegas and Phoenix. The additional operators aim to increase ride-hailing availability in the Bay Area after initial launch caused long wait times, which have since fallen to roughly ten minutes but remain strained during peak demand. Tesla has registered 1,655 cars in San Francisco.

Read at Business Insider