Yes, but Uber seems to be relying mostly on things that people already have (car, smartphone) as well as software that seems fairly straightforward to replicate

Yes, but Uber seems to be relying mostly on things that people already have (car, smartphone) as well as software that seems fairly straightforward to replicate (I am not an experienced programmer, so feel free to correct me if this is not the case). Where is the "magic" that only Uber can add? At this point, it's in various incentives to drivers and riders, which is not a long-term strategy for making money. They also have their brand name, which is strong, but could easily be replaced by a company offering better cuts for drivers and/or cheaper rides. I think Uber completely understands all of this, and this is why they are pouring resources into autonomous vehicle research--Uber thinks that this will give them an advantage over other ride-sharing apps in the future. I'm not so sure, though. What's stopping Google or Ford or anyone else who develops autonomous vehicles from stepping in and offering a nearly identical, less-expensive product? I also fail to see their advantage in the delivery space. I'm bearish on Uber in the long-term, though I'm certainly happy to use these 50% discounts that they keep offering me!