Waymo may launch its self-driving car service in early December

It's been a long time in coming, but Waymo finally appears to be on the cusp of launching a commercial self-driving car service. Bloomberg sources claim that the Alphabet-owned brand will launch its autonomous transport option in the Phoenix suburbs sometime in early December. Many details are reportedly still under wraps, but it would operate under a new brand and "directly" challenge ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft, right down to the pricing. It'd serve a roughly 100 square mile area and would initially rely on passengers from Waymo's Early Rider Program, but they would be free to talk about it take people from outside the program. There would initially be backup drivers in some cars to assuage customers and take over in a pinch, but the vehicles would drive themselves nearly the entire time.