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For those curious: Waymo is owned by Google (well, Alphabet), and is looking to compete with Uber/Lyft. Nuro is backed by Softbank, and is looking to start wi

For those curious: Waymo is owned by Google (well, Alphabet), and is looking to compete with Uber/Lyft. Nuro is backed by Softbank, and is looking to start with food/grocery deliveries.

sdan 7y ago
Waymo has more competition with Cruise, Aurora, and Argo than what Uber/Lyft is trying. I've heard that Uber ATG is barely staying afloat and Lyft is just pumping money just as a desperate attempt (their platform is much more powerful, which is what they're betting on).
- gkoberger 7y ago
  Well, what I mean is the ultimate goal of Waymo is on-demand rides from self driving cars, much like what Uber/Lyft do today with humans (rather than, for example, selling the cars).
- chipperyman573 7y ago
  How is lyft's platform more powerful? Their apps both seem identical.
  - sdan 7y ago
    Lyft is opening up their app for key players: They opened it up for Waymo and are working with others (i forgot their names) to also put them on their platform.
- empath75 7y ago
  I interviewed with one of those companies and it just seems bizarre that people are investing so many millions of dollars into building a taxi company. How big is the taxi industry when all is said and done?
  - nradov 7y ago
    They hope that if they perfect autonomous vehicle technology that will allow them to both expand the taxi market, and license the technology to every other vehicle manufacturer.
  - chx 7y ago
    Can you imagine a more captive audience for ads than those in a cab? Imagine Alphabet introducing free, ad supported taxi rides.
    - lolc 7y ago
      So you'd be forbidden to look at your phone or wear headphones during the ride?
      - chx 7y ago
        I am sure if you are offered the choice between gamified ads and paying for the ride more than a few would rather waste some time interacting with an ad. Especially because nothing stops them from charging exorbitant cash rates. The app would disclose it , of course: this ride costs you a hundred dollars but if you want you can play Awesome Coke Hunting instead...
  - slfnflctd 7y ago
    Well, if I'm reading this right (https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2020/Uber-Announces-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2019/ https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-det...), Uber's share of it alone brought in $65 billion in gross bookings last year. So, not exactly what I'd call small. What they need is to figure out how to massively decrease operating margins, and for many years now the story has been how it'll be done - at least partly - with autonomous vehicles. I'm skeptical, but we'll see. It would make a lot more sense to me if the robotaxis were used only on certain roads outfitted with multiple types of redundant roadside sensors to assist the self-driving cars.
  - jcranmer 7y ago
    They're not taxi companies, they're tech companies. At least, until people listen to the little kid asking where's the clothes and everybody realizes the deceit (as happened to WeWork).

For those curious: Waymo is owned by Google (well, Alphabet), and is looking to compete with Uber/Lyft. Nuro is backed by Softbank, and is looking to start with food/grocery deliveries.

sdan 7y ago

Waymo has more competition with Cruise, Aurora, and Argo than what Uber/Lyft is trying. I've heard that Uber ATG is barely staying afloat and Lyft is just pumping money just as a desperate attempt (their platform is much more powerful, which is what they're betting on).

gkoberger 7y ago
Well, what I mean is the ultimate goal of Waymo is on-demand rides from self driving cars, much like what Uber/Lyft do today with humans (rather than, for example, selling the cars).
chipperyman573 7y ago
How is lyft's platform more powerful? Their apps both seem identical.
- sdan 7y ago
  Lyft is opening up their app for key players: They opened it up for Waymo and are working with others (i forgot their names) to also put them on their platform.
empath75 7y ago
I interviewed with one of those companies and it just seems bizarre that people are investing so many millions of dollars into building a taxi company. How big is the taxi industry when all is said and done?
- nradov 7y ago
  They hope that if they perfect autonomous vehicle technology that will allow them to both expand the taxi market, and license the technology to every other vehicle manufacturer.
- chx 7y ago
  Can you imagine a more captive audience for ads than those in a cab? Imagine Alphabet introducing free, ad supported taxi rides.
  - lolc 7y ago
    So you'd be forbidden to look at your phone or wear headphones during the ride?
    - chx 7y ago
      I am sure if you are offered the choice between gamified ads and paying for the ride more than a few would rather waste some time interacting with an ad. Especially because nothing stops them from charging exorbitant cash rates. The app would disclose it , of course: this ride costs you a hundred dollars but if you want you can play Awesome Coke Hunting instead...
- slfnflctd 7y ago
  Well, if I'm reading this right (https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2020/Uber-Announces-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2019/ https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-det...), Uber's share of it alone brought in $65 billion in gross bookings last year. So, not exactly what I'd call small. What they need is to figure out how to massively decrease operating margins, and for many years now the story has been how it'll be done - at least partly - with autonomous vehicles. I'm skeptical, but we'll see. It would make a lot more sense to me if the robotaxis were used only on certain roads outfitted with multiple types of redundant roadside sensors to assist the self-driving cars.
- jcranmer 7y ago
  They're not taxi companies, they're tech companies. At least, until people listen to the little kid asking where's the clothes and everybody realizes the deceit (as happened to WeWork).