Waymo is asking DoorDash drivers to close the doors of its self-driving cars

It still sounds like a technological marvel: Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are now transporting people across six cities. Alas, this driverless future comes with its own set of challenges. These cars can be disabled if a passenger accidentally leaves a door open.

According to Reddit postA DoorDash driver discovered the issue when an unusual request appeared in their queue. Instead of delivering the goods, the driver was offered $6.25 to drive less than a mile to the Waymo car and lock its door. “Once they are verified,” they will receive an additional $5.

“You really broke the ‘door’,” one commenter said.

It seems too ridiculous to be true. Waymo’s cars represent technological breakthroughs that were once thought to be unfathomable. The company that owns Alphabet has just developed $16 billion taking driverless cars around the world!

But Waymo and DoorDash confirmed to TechCrunch that this Reddit post is legitimate. This is the real problem.

“Waymo is currently running a pilot program in Atlanta to improve its AV capabilities. In the rare event that a car door is left open, preventing the car from leaving, nearby Dashers are notified, which allows Waymo to get its cars back on the road quickly,” Waymo and DoorDash said in a joint response. (The agreement to close the door, which began earlier this yearis just one part of Waymo’s relationship with DoorDash. In October, the company launched an autonomous service in Phoenix, where Waymo vehicles deliver food and groceries to DoorDash customers.)

If Waymo’s door is left open, it’s necessary for the company to pay someone to close it — the car can’t take off again if it’s left motionless. Not to mention, a stationary vehicle can block traffic.

This is not the first time that Waymo has asked for help with its domestic problems. In Los Angeles, Waymo works with Honkan Uber-like app for taxi services. According to reports, Honk users in LA have been offered up to $24 closing the door on Waymo — more than double what Atlanta DoorDash drivers earn.

The company noted that future Waymo vehicles will have locking doors. But for now, gig workers are Waymo’s best bet.