Grand Theft Auto Online DLC Unleashes Chaotic ‘KnoWay’ Robotaxis
▼ Summary
– A new Grand Theft Auto Online expansion features destructive robotaxis from a fictional company called “KnoWay,” which resembles Waymo’s vehicles.
– The expansion’s storyline involves players stopping a mass surveillance network, with the KnoWay tagline “We Kno where you’re going” highlighting privacy concerns.
– The article notes that real-world Waymo vehicles have faced criticism as part of a surveillance state and have been targets of vandalism.
– Waymo’s co-CEO has stated the company works with law enforcement to pursue those who vandalize its fleet, though Waymo declined to comment on the game.
– The expansion, “A Safehouse in the Hills,” is available from December 10 and includes an AI assistant named “Haviland” in its tech-focused storyline.
The newest downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto Online introduces a fictional yet recognizable robotaxi service called “KnoWay,” which seems designed to cause maximum mayhem on the streets of Los Santos. A recently released trailer showcases the company’s sensor-laden vans weaving dangerously through traffic, smashing into other vehicles, and even plowing through a promotional billboard. While this portrayal is far more destructive than any real-world incidents involving autonomous vehicles, the in-game models bear a striking resemblance to earlier-generation Chrysler Pacifica vans used by the actual company Waymo. This expansion, titled “A Safehouse in the Hills,” becomes available on December 10.
It remains ambiguous whether these virtual robotaxis have been commandeered by players or have simply malfunctioned. The narrative suggests a system gone rogue, as Rockstar Games describes a mission where players must “stop the development of a mass surveillance network.” The trailer further hints at a plot involving an artificial intelligence assistant named “Haviland,” indicating the game’s storyline will satirize broader technological anxieties. This mirrors real-world concerns where companies like Waymo, despite pledging to deny overly broad government requests for footage, face criticism for contributing to surveillance infrastructure. Such public frustration has occasionally turned violent, with Waymo’s SUVs being vandalized, set on fire, and damaged in several cities over recent years.
Rockstar appears to be directly channeling this cultural tension. The in-game tagline for KnoWay’s service, “We Kno where you’re going,” blatantly highlights privacy fears. It is easy to foresee players venting their real-world frustrations on these digital counterparts once the update goes live. The company Waymo has chosen not to comment on this fictionalized portrayal. Meanwhile, at the TechCrunch Disrupt event in October, Waymo’s co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana addressed the actual vandalism, emphasizing a commitment to collaborating with law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.
(Source: TechCrunch)