Uber looks to cash in on self-driving cars — but not by driving them
CBSN
Uber wants to capitalize on the emergence of self-driving cars — not by handing the wheel to AI-powered drivers, but rather by tapping the mountain of potentially valuable data the rideshare company could collect in the billions of trips it handles every year. Edited by Alain Sherter
Uber wants to capitalize on the emergence of self-driving cars — not by handing the wheel to AI-powered drivers, but rather by tapping the mountain of potentially valuable data the rideshare company could collect in the billions of trips it handles every year.
Uber this week announced a new initiative to collect and analyze data from vehicle cameras and sensors for its robotaxi partners. The goal: to generate real-world driving data valuable to autonomous vehicle (AV) companies.
Uber told CBS News it will start the effort by working with its 50,000 global fleet partners — third-party individuals or companies that own multiple vehicles and manage drivers that register their vehicles with Uber. Fleet partners will begin outfitting these vehicles with customized sensor kits that track weather and road obstructions, according to an Uber spokesperson.
Uber said the sensor kits will be exterior-facing, not inside the car, and will focus on the public road environment.
"We have this platform strategy, and this is about helping our partners and accelerating equitable access to safe [autonomous vehicles] around the world," the spokesperson said.
