A self-driving taxi operated by Waymo, Alphabet’s (Google’s parent company) autonomous vehicle subsidiary, struck and killed a beloved local cat named Kit Kat in San Francisco, triggering widespread outrage and heated debate among residents. The incident occurred late on the night of October 27th, and Kit Kat’s untimely death sent shockwaves through the community. In response, residents created a makeshift memorial and took to social media to voice their anger and sorrow. Seizing the moment, City Councilor Jackie Fielder urged that decision-making authority over autonomous vehicle operations be placed in the hands of local voters. Waymo acknowledged the collision, explaining that the cat had “suddenly darted beneath the vehicle,” and reiterated its stance that its autonomous technology is safer than human drivers. However, amid the community’s grief and growing skepticism toward self-driving technology, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s support for Waymo appeared muted. The incident not only provided a focal point for critics to voice their concerns about automated technology but also thrust the safety, ethical, and regulatory challenges of self-driving vehicles into the public eye.