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That last point is really fascinating: The employment status of Uber's drivers could have a significant effect on the speed at which autonomous vehicles are int

That last point is really fascinating: The employment status of Uber's drivers could have a significant effect on the speed at which autonomous vehicles are introduced in this country. Uber may accumulate a tremendous amount of cash, only to suffer unfavorable legal rulings that jeopardize its current business model. One of the obvious solutions would be to devote that money towards replacing the drivers with automation, so that the entire "independent contractor vs. employee" issue becomes moot.

lifeisstillgood 11y ago
The employment status of Ubers drivers is a tiny proportion of the impact autonomous cars will have, and to be honest unfavourable legal rulings is factored into their model (Uber seems to be going after 100% of all taxi regiemes, but if they get locked out of only x % - where x is some unknown factor say around 60% - then they are still a vast global cash cow. But just look at the changes that autonomous cars will have apart from solving Ubers W2 and pension provision: - 1/3 of major city ground space is parking - replace that with new housing, or nice green parks. - we think drones will revolutionise delivery - but put a lock box into every cars trunk and add in clever routing software and see what happens - freight and passenger changed the railways. What happens when my commute is merely part of a longer freight haul. - social effects - an hours commute facing forwards and concentrating suddenly becomes ... Family time? Sleep time? Work time? Sex and drugs and adultery? - ownership - I own my car. I choose the colours. If Uber buys 1 million cars they won't ask me my opinion - or will I rent my car to them when I am not commuting in it? Will I part own with several others I am fairly certain will not be doing sex and drugs on the nice upholstery? - it's so big it's scary. PS - completely agree with the "it's out of the labs into the real world - great !" idea you wrote at top of the page. PPS A more useful answer would be that Uber developing autonomous cars to defend against regulatory difficulties is such a huge leap it cannot be defended as a business strategy and only as a VC style investment. These unicorns are not planning on surviving by growing their current business but by starting up totally new ones. It's as if Barclays Bank said, well, we don't need all you employees, we're moving all our assets over to that 12 line peel script over there
deegles 11y ago
Introducing self-driving cars might harm Uber as well. Drivers might leave en-masse in protest since they're being replaced anyways. If Uber can't roll out SDCs fast enough (maybe parts shortages or whatever) they'll be screwed. Now that I think about it, Uber might have to stockpile the SDCs and release them all at once.
- harryh 11y ago
  That's never happened before when industries have become automated. It's not likely to happen this time.
- mycelium 11y ago
  Most drivers need the income. They leave en-masse in protest and there's a lot of incentive for poor drivers to defect from the protest and pick up even more fares.
- tomjen3 11y ago
  If that happens it will only be a short term hit. You can say anything about capitalism you want, but nothing beats it if you need a particular thing and have the money to pay for it.

lifeisstillgood 11y ago

The employment status of Ubers drivers is a tiny proportion of the impact autonomous cars will have, and to be honest unfavourable legal rulings is factored into their model (Uber seems to be going after 100% of all taxi regiemes, but if they get locked out of only x % - where x is some unknown factor say around 60% - then they are still a vast global cash cow. But just look at the changes that autonomous cars will have apart from solving Ubers W2 and pension provision: - 1/3 of major city ground space is parking - replace that with new housing, or nice green parks. - we think drones will revolutionise delivery - but put a lock box into every cars trunk and add in clever routing software and see what happens - freight and passenger changed the railways. What happens when my commute is merely part of a longer freight haul. - social effects - an hours commute facing forwards and concentrating suddenly becomes ... Family time? Sleep time? Work time? Sex and drugs and adultery? - ownership - I own my car. I choose the colours. If Uber buys 1 million cars they won't ask me my opinion - or will I rent my car to them when I am not commuting in it? Will I part own with several others I am fairly certain will not be doing sex and drugs on the nice upholstery? - it's so big it's scary. PS - completely agree with the "it's out of the labs into the real world - great !" idea you wrote at top of the page. PPS A more useful answer would be that Uber developing autonomous cars to defend against regulatory difficulties is such a huge leap it cannot be defended as a business strategy and only as a VC style investment. These unicorns are not planning on surviving by growing their current business but by starting up totally new ones. It's as if Barclays Bank said, well, we don't need all you employees, we're moving all our assets over to that 12 line peel script over there

deegles 11y ago

Introducing self-driving cars might harm Uber as well. Drivers might leave en-masse in protest since they're being replaced anyways. If Uber can't roll out SDCs fast enough (maybe parts shortages or whatever) they'll be screwed. Now that I think about it, Uber might have to stockpile the SDCs and release them all at once.

harryh 11y ago
That's never happened before when industries have become automated. It's not likely to happen this time.
mycelium 11y ago
Most drivers need the income. They leave en-masse in protest and there's a lot of incentive for poor drivers to defect from the protest and pick up even more fares.
tomjen3 11y ago
If that happens it will only be a short term hit. You can say anything about capitalism you want, but nothing beats it if you need a particular thing and have the money to pay for it.