Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle unit, is now providing over 250,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly in the U.S., showing growth from 200,000 in February due to expansions in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the company's evolving business model and partnerships with Uber and automakers, while also noting the competition from Tesla and other autonomous vehicle firms.

Waymo's ride-hailing service is more expensive than competitors like Uber and Lyft, yet customers are still choosing to use it. The higher costs are attributed to the advanced technology and safety features of Waymo's autonomous vehicles, which appeal to a growing segment of riders willing to pay a premium for a unique experience.