level: business
uber has expanded beyond ride-hailing and delivery, adding hotel bookings through expedia, boat rentals in europe, and a shop-for-me concierge. the company also launched a debit card for drivers and a data-labeling side hustle for earners. a new unit called av labs is building a fleet of sensor-equipped vehicles to collect driving data, separate from its regular driver network. this data operation aims to strengthen ties with autonomous vehicle partners while giving uber leverage and optionality.
uber one membership now has 51 million members and accounts for roughly half of bookings. the program increases usage across mobility and delivery, with delivery becoming independently profitable. the company is not trying to be an everything app like asian super-apps. instead, it relies on partners for services like buy now, pay later and sometimes uses handoff models for new features, such as boat rentals, before deciding on deeper integration.
ai is showing up in practical ways: an earner assistant suggests where drivers can find more demand, a grocery cart assistant builds shopping lists from voice commands, and riders can use voice to request trips with specific needs. uber is also selling labeled data to generative ai companies through its earner base. the company envisions a future agentic uber that plans and books entire trips, but it is cautious about shipping an unreliable agent just to check a box.
why it matters: uber's data collection and ai integrations show how ride-hailing platforms are becoming data providers and ai testbeds, impacting autonomous vehicle development and personalized services.