According to  Vision Zero Network (2013), Vision Zero is a "strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all." 

Waymo started connecting itself to Vision Zero as part of its safety-focused marketing strategy in the early 2020s. 

Through blog posts, research reports, and partnerships, they present their autonomous driving model as a tool integral to reduce crashes caused by human error. In other words, Waymo inextricably ties itself to Vision Zero's mantra of public safety, framing itself as a service for the public.

Throughout Waymo's marketing explaining the technology, they continuously use language that makes it seem to have human qualities. For instance, Waymo appears to have human sight with phrases such as “Keeping an eye on everything, all at once,” “Seeing the road,” and “the Waymo driver is designed to clearly see what’s happening.” Other phrases hint at further cognitive function involving human processing and response: “deciphers what’s around it using AI” and “the Waymo Driver also responds to signs and signals.”

Even writers and the general public adopt this language. On Dec. 2, 2025, the Wall Street Journal published an article that claimed that "Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars Are Suddenly Behaving Like New York Cabbies." Throughout the article, comparisons were made between Waymo vehicles and humans such as cab and Uber drivers. Some direct quotes include claims that the Waymo gets “closer to a car than a human driver,” “[mimics] Uber drivers,” and “[makes] common-sense decisions.”

The language implies that automated vehicles have human qualities, such as “seeing” & “decision-making.” Much of this discourse is ungrounded in the actual nature of the automated technology, which is not capable of cognitive function.

Waymo has framed 2026 as a pivotal year for domestic and international scaling. In February 2026, the company closed on a $16 billion funding round at a $126 billion evaluation led by multiple high-profile investment groups. Waymo has stated on its blog that this funding will support "ride-hailing operations in over 20 additional cities in 2026, including Tokyo and London." (Elias, 2026)

Konstatine Buhler, a partner at Sequoia Capital states, "As a technology leader in the trillion dollar transportation market, Waymo has moved beyond research milestones to achieve operational excellence, tripling its weekly paid rides in just one year while maintaining customer delight."

Saurabh Gupta, a co-founder of DST Global states, "Waymo has brought autonomous driving from science fiction to reality...As it scales in 2026 and beyond, Waymo will boost productivity and accessibility for millions while improving road safety worldwide."

Jared Middleman, a partner at Dragoneer Investment Group states, "Waymo has not only taught a car to drive itself, but to do so meaningfully better than any human or competing system, and we believe that lead will endure... [They] are poised to permanently change how people and goods move through communities around the globe."

(Accelerating Our Global Growth: Waymo Raises $16 Billion Investment Round, 2026)

Investors in Waymo believe that the technology in Waymo can eventually be used outside of personal transportation and move into the "trillion dollar transportation market" of logistics as well. In 2025 alone, Waymo has more than tripled their annual volume to 15 million rides, and investors are confident that these metric growths will continue as Waymo expands into new markets. Waymo believes that they "have demonstrated that [their] technology is not just the most advanced manifestation of AI in the physical world, but a vital service that people have come to rely on in their daily lives."

Read Waymo's Blog here

Waymo and its proponents have portrayed the service as growing exponentially, with increasing mass adoption in supported regions. However, data shows that approximately 56% of the vehicle miles traveled contain 1+ passengers, while 44% of the miles traveled are empty. Waymo also doesn't travel on freeways, where the majority of crashes (especially injury-causing ones) happen. 

This means that the average occupancy rate for the Waymo cars is ~.75 on smaller roads and side streets, whereas the norm for an average car on the freeway is 1.5-1.75 people per car, and even greater for side streets and smaller roads (in California, the only place where Waymo is forced to publish their data). 

They further expand their reach by hosting events and joining non-profit foundations and celebrations. As self-driving is “up next,” they have started working with City Harvest and LGBTQ+ orgs to serve as meal couriers and seniors around the metro SD area to promote Waymo before it arrives for commercial use.

In truth, user rates have not increased, even with seed funding money. The rates continue to hover and do not address the issues of transportation in areas prone to public transportation droughts, despite this being the original promise made in service of earnign city funding.

Examine this TikTok featuring members from each generation of the Manning Family advertising the Waymo Uber collaboration. 

Waymo uses the reputations of pre-existing platforms, organizations, and people to integrate itself into daily life and normalize its use to people across generations. 

In the video, Waymo is intentional in its branding: using Uber's platform, having relatable elements targeted at each generation, and playing into being an easier and safer system. 

Reference the applied mechanism to see our team breakdown Waymo's intentions and see if you can apply similar questioning to other scripted media you see.