Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently addressed this tension during the “All-In” podcast summit. He acknowledged that while self-driving cars are advancing quickly, human drivers remain essential to Uber’s operations in the short term. According to him, the company will need more drivers over the next five to seven years to keep pace with demand. However, he cautioned that within 10 to 15 years, autonomous vehicles could displace large numbers of workers, calling it a “big societal challenge” without an easy fix.
The Growing Role of Robotaxis
Uber has already partnered with Waymo, the Google-linked autonomous vehicle company, to roll out robotaxis in cities such as Atlanta and Austin. Early results from these trials suggest that the cars are often more efficient than human drivers. The company has also struck deals with EV maker Lucid and startup Nuro, committing to add 20,000 self-driving electric vehicles to its fleet over the next six years.
Yet, despite these developments, not everyone is convinced. Some drivers told Business Insider that they doubt robotaxis can handle real-world road challenges like potholes or unpredictable pedestrians, underscoring the technology’s limitations in chaotic environments.
Impact on Gig Workers and Society
The prospect of mass automation has sparked debate beyond the ride-hailing industry. Gig work has been a critical source of income for millions worldwide, and many fear that automation could eliminate these jobs. Khosrowshahi acknowledged the irony that the very workers who helped build Uber’s success may eventually face displacement.
Still, he emphasized that Uber is exploring ways to diversify opportunities. Through its AI solutions arm, the company has created roles for contractors in data labeling and processing to support machine learning development. He said Uber is expanding into new types of on-demand work so that workers can continue to find opportunities even as automation advances.
Competing Visions with Tesla
While Uber is building its robotaxi partnerships, Tesla is preparing to launch its own autonomous fleet. Khosrowshahi has suggested that Tesla robotaxis could earn more revenue if they joined Uber’s platform, though Elon Musk appears intent on keeping Tesla’s model stand-alone. He noted that the market is large enough to support multiple winners but maintained that Uber would welcome collaboration.
Beyond robotaxis, Uber has also partnered with Tesla’s freight division to bring electric trucks to its logistics platform, signaling broader cooperation even as the companies pursue different strategies in ride-hailing.