March 26 - Waymo, Alphabet's (GOOG, Financial) self-driving division, is hitting the gas on its robotaxi expansion. The company unveiled plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Washington, D.C. by 2026, adding to its growing list of cities. With services already running in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin, this isn't a test, it's a full-fledged business.

Before reaching the nation's capital, Waymo will roll out in Miami and Atlanta. That's a strategic move, considering Washington, D.C., has tight regulatory oversight. Self-driving cars here need more than just great AI, they need policymakers on board. Waymo is working with local lawmakers to align regulations with its vision.

Competition is still in the rearview mirror. Tesla (TSLA, Financial) is refining its camera-based self-driving, while General Motors' (GM, Financial) Cruise has scaled back after safety concerns. China's Baidu (BIDU, Financial) is making progress at home, and Aurora (AUR, Financial) is focused on autonomous trucking. But for urban robotaxis, Waymo is miles ahead.

Alphabet is backing the expansion, investing $5.6 billion last year. With millions of paid trips already completed and safety stats that outshine human drivers, Waymo's future looks like the road ahead wide open.