"Robotaxis make up a tiny fraction of the cars on US roads. But you've likely heard about them. Sabrina Carpenter, a Gen Z popstar, even sung about it: "I had a really great time / I really loved the conversation / And that your car self drives." In 2025, autonomous cars took over some of our roads and even more of our attention."
"Online, the word "robotaxi" peaked in late June with over 204,000 mentions, coinciding with the launch of Tesla Robotaxi that month, according to data from Hootsuite, which tracks real-time brand mentions across more than 30 social networks and 150 million websites, forums, and blogs. As of Sunday, Tesla hasn't provided a single fully autonomous ride to the public. Only this month did the company show an employee inside a Tesla driving without a monitor behind the wheel or in the front passenger seat."
Robotaxis expanded rapidly in 2025, gaining notable operational milestones and cultural visibility. Waymo reached full autonomy in at least ten cities, provided over 14 million trips, and launched services in Austin and Atlanta. Waymo vehicles appeared in music videos and other cultural moments. The word "robotaxi" spiked online during Tesla's Robotaxi announcement, despite Tesla not yet offering fully autonomous public rides. Tesla recently demonstrated an employee driving without a monitor in a Tesla. High-profile promotion by company leaders and viral social media content, including mishap videos, amplified public attention toward driverless services. Public perception remains shaped by both milestone achievements and viral incidents.
Read at Business Insider
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