Morning Brew Daily Waymos Stall During SF Blackout & Avatar Fizzles at the Box Office
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Dec 22, 2025 Waymo cars faced major setbacks during a San Francisco blackout, raising questions about their design and safety. Meanwhile, the latest Avatar film struggled to attract audiences, lacking a strong cultural impact. Exciting news came from Blue Origin, which successfully flew the first wheelchair user to space, marking a milestone for accessibility. Additionally, Sony secured the Peanuts franchise, aiming to revitalize its enduring legacy and create new monetization strategies. The hosts also preview the upcoming week's events, including holiday markets and sports.
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Scale Revealed Waymo's Edge-Case Limits
- Waymo's robo-taxis stalled during a massive San Francisco blackout, exposing limits in handling large-scale signal failures.
- The incident revealed gaps between expected autonomy capabilities and real-world edge cases despite onboard systems.
Design Doesn’t Ensure Real-World Robustness
- Waymo vehicles are designed to operate without continuous network access and handle dark signals as four-way stops.
- Experts questioned why the outage still immobilized cars, suggesting unexpected coordination and scale issues.
Public Trust Remains Fragile
- Public skepticism persists: AAA found 66% of U.S. drivers fearful of autonomous vehicles in early 2025.
- High-profile failures and odd incidents, like a Waymo killing a bodega cat, erode trust despite safety stats.