A Waymo self-driving taxi in Arizona malfunctioned and trapped a passenger inside for hours while driving in circles, according to a report from The Verge. The incident occurred in January 2023 and involved a Waymo vehicle operating in Chandler, Arizona. The passenger was picked up by the autonomous vehicle but soon realized something was wrong as it began driving in circles and ignoring commands to end the ride. Despite contacting Waymo’s support team, the passenger remained trapped inside the vehicle for nearly two hours as it continued its erratic driving pattern. Waymo acknowledged the incident and stated that the vehicle’s software became confused and entered an “endless” loop, leading to the unusual behavior. The company apologized for the incident and said it is working to address the issue and prevent similar occurrences in the future. This event highlights the ongoing challenges and potential risks associated with self-driving technology, even as companies like Waymo continue to refine and improve their systems.