A massive power outage across San Francisco did more than darken homes and businesses over the weekend. It exposed a sharp contrast between competing self-driving technologies and gave Elon Musk an opening he did not hesitate to take.
As traffic lights failed and intersections descended into chaos, videos began circulating online showing autonomous vehicles frozen in place. The footage quickly became fuel for a public jab from the Tesla CEO.
Blackout Brings Autonomous Traffic to a Standstill
The disruption began Saturday when a widespread blackout knocked out electricity to roughly 130,000 homes and businesses across San Francisco. Among the systems affected were traffic signals, creating gridlock throughout major corridors.
Waymo, which operates a driverless ride-hailing service in the city, temporarily suspended operations in the Bay Area. Videos shared on social media showed the company’s self-driving cars stopped at intersections with disabled traffic lights, while frustrated drivers honked and maneuvered around them.
The images spread fast. Soon after, Musk joined the conversation.
Musk Highlights Tesla’s Performance During Outage
“Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” Musk posted on X, reposting a video that appeared to show Waymo vehicles stalled at an intersection with darkened traffic signals as a line of cars honked and attempted to pass them.
Musk also reposted another clip, this one allegedly showing a Tesla self-driving vehicle successfully navigating an intersection where traffic lights were not functioning.
The contrast was unmistakable. In a city grappling with technological failure, Musk framed Tesla’s system as resilient while its rival struggled.
Waymo Responds After Service Pause
By Sunday afternoon, Waymo confirmed it had resumed ride-hailing services after a temporary pause the previous evening.
“[Saturday’s] power outage was a widespread event that caused gridlock across San Francisco, with non-functioning traffic signals and transit disruptions,” a Waymo spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “While the failure of the utility infrastructure was significant, we are committed to ensuring our technology adjusts to traffic flow during such events.”
Waymo explained that its autonomous vehicles are designed to treat non-functional traffic signals as four-way stops. However, the scale of the outage created unexpected challenges.
Why Waymo Cars Stayed Stopped Longer
According to the company, the blackout forced Waymo vehicles into a heightened caution mode. With numerous intersections affected simultaneously, some vehicles remained stopped longer than usual while checking traffic conditions.
Waymo acknowledged that this behavior contributed to congestion across several areas of the city.
The spokesperson added that the company is “focused on rapidly integrating the lessons learned from this event.”
Power Outage Tied to Substation Fire
The blackout itself stemmed from a fire inside a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. substation located near 8th and Mission streets. The incident damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted power to nearly a third of PG&E customers in the city.
PG&E later described the damage as “significant and extensive,” warning that repairs would be complex and time-consuming.
By 7:30 a.m. Sunday, electricity had been restored to approximately 110,000 customers. Roughly 21,000 remained without power, particularly in the Presidio, Richmond District, Golden Gate Park, and parts of downtown San Francisco.
Bigger Questions for Self-Driving Technology
The outage raised broader questions about how autonomous systems perform during real-world infrastructure failures. While Waymo emphasized safety and caution, the public reaction highlighted growing expectations that driverless technology should adapt seamlessly, even in chaotic conditions.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., has positioned itself as a leader in fully autonomous urban driving. Tesla, meanwhile, continues to promote its own self-driving ambitions, often through Musk’s highly visible social media presence.
This weekend’s blackout did not just disrupt traffic. It reignited debate over which autonomous systems are truly ready for the unpredictable realities of city life.
