An organized effort to challenge the autonomous-taxi operator Waymo has placed opinion articles in a range of regional newspapers. The pieces argue that Waymo could eliminate jobs, jeopardize passenger safety, withhold data from authorities, and even block emergency vehicles. An AI-detection platform called Pangram flagged a substantial portion of the text in these articles as generated by artificial intelligence. Despite the high AI scores, the publications did not include any notice that the content was AI-assisted.
Ira Goldstein, former head of New York’s Black Car Fund, said a public-relations firm prepared the initial drafts of several pieces. He explained that the firm produced a first version, which he then edited before the firm arranged placement in the New York Daily News. Goldstein described this workflow as a standard practice when working with PR agencies.
The campaign’s output includes a series of op-eds for the Dallas Morning News authored by lawyer Amy Witherite, which Pangram rated 95 percent AI-generated for one piece and 71 percent for another. A San Francisco Chronicle article warning that driverless cars might become inactive during power outages was flagged as 88 percent AI-written. The Daily News published a piece assessed at 68 percent AI content, while the San Diego Union-Tribune ran an argument about job displacement that scored 95 percent AI. A Times of San Diego column on tracking Waymo’s rollout registered 87 percent AI assistance.
Michael Redmond, the Chronicle author, said he uses AI tools for research, testing arguments, organizing thoughts and clarifying prose, calling them a normal part of modern writing. Chronicle editor Matt Fleischer confirmed the outlet requires opinion contributors to disclose any AI usage. Dallas Morning News commentary editor Ryan Sanders replied that limited AI for research or polishing is permissible, but the paper rejects submissions that are entirely AI-generated.
Andrew Julien, executive editor of the Daily News, said the paper is working to tighten AI safeguards after ongoing litigation involving Microsoft and OpenAI. The anti-Waymo messaging forms part of a prolonged dispute over the company’s right to run driverless services in several major U.S. cities. The Washington Post reported that the Coalition for Accountability and Road Safety, a group opposing Waymo, spent more than $2.6 million on advertisements in the Washington, D.C., area in 2026, exceeding the spending of the winning mayoral candidate that year.
The prevalence of AI-generated text raises broader questions for newsrooms about standards and transparency. Some journalists argue that distinguishing between human and machine authorship is becoming moot as many writers rely on AI for assistance. Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal’s opinion editor announced that AI-produced submissions from notable figures would be accepted without disclosure provided they are newsworthy, well-argued and relevant, setting a precedent that could influence industry practices.