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I'm not a heavy user, but I noticed that if I start with Google Maps anonymously and hit the ride-share button which gives you a comparison of Uber, Lyft, etc.

I'm not a heavy user, but I noticed that if I start with Google Maps anonymously and hit the ride-share button which gives you a comparison of Uber, Lyft, etc. prices, that when you click through the price is consistently lower than if you start with an app. I'm not sure if it's circumstance, but it's worth giving a shot if you have the time.

zug_zug 2y ago
If you can do this repeatedly, say 15 times, and record the numbers each time (say just put them in a spreadsheet), you can actually pretty easily run a "statistical test" to prove your theory at 95% confidence (which is what research journals often do). You obviously don't need to justify your observations to anybody else, but if you did find a conclusive result it would make a good blog post. [P.S. chat gpt could help with the statistical test part]
- oehpr 2y ago
  I do find chatgpt is helpful in laying out the formulas you should you in the context that they should be used in. Something I personally know I have no business doing. ... At the same time, I also am aware of how hilariously dumb chat GPT can be in deep technical contexts. I've taken to saying that when it comes to a technical topic, chatGPT will confidently tell you the wrong thing to do 50% of the time, but that's fine because it will give you the terms and context you can use to audit its solution yourself. Even if you don't understand the answers you can easily have chat gpt explain the gaps, again, 50%, but giving real information contextualizes the conversation better. I would expect this to improve accuracy, and my personal experience bares this out. There was a brief window of time where the strongest chess players were chimeras, humans who assessed AI suggestions. Quickly even they found themselves outperformed by engines. I suspect this is happening here as well. And I also suspect its going to take a good deal longer.
AStonesThrow 2y ago
Interesting - you're not logged into Maps? The rideshare tab in Maps gives me time/distance/traffic estimates and no prices. Whether I'm logged in, or Incognito. No prices unless I tap "Open App ->" There is no rideshare tab in the desktop version, only tried it on my Android.
- BearOso 2y ago
  I'm looking at it now, but it no longer shows Uber as an option for me, only Lyft, and it doesn't show prices. I guess that was short-lived. Last time I used it was a month or so ago.
  - AStonesThrow 2y ago
    Interestingly, Uber and Waymo have partnered in some markets, for example Austin/Atlanta, where riders must use the Uber app to summon an autonomous Waymo: https://waymo.com/blog/2024/09/waymo-and-uber-expand-partnership/ https://waymo.com/blog/2024/09/waymo-and-uber-expand-partner... In my market, Maps is showing me options for Lyft or Waymo autos only. However, Lyft is co-branded with scooters and e-bikes, so if I opened that app instead, I'd be presented with even more options. So, our Maps experience may depend on the market and other variables, which brings us back to TFA's topic, I suppose.

zug_zug 2y ago

If you can do this repeatedly, say 15 times, and record the numbers each time (say just put them in a spreadsheet), you can actually pretty easily run a "statistical test" to prove your theory at 95% confidence (which is what research journals often do). You obviously don't need to justify your observations to anybody else, but if you did find a conclusive result it would make a good blog post. [P.S. chat gpt could help with the statistical test part]

oehpr 2y ago
I do find chatgpt is helpful in laying out the formulas you should you in the context that they should be used in. Something I personally know I have no business doing. ... At the same time, I also am aware of how hilariously dumb chat GPT can be in deep technical contexts. I've taken to saying that when it comes to a technical topic, chatGPT will confidently tell you the wrong thing to do 50% of the time, but that's fine because it will give you the terms and context you can use to audit its solution yourself. Even if you don't understand the answers you can easily have chat gpt explain the gaps, again, 50%, but giving real information contextualizes the conversation better. I would expect this to improve accuracy, and my personal experience bares this out. There was a brief window of time where the strongest chess players were chimeras, humans who assessed AI suggestions. Quickly even they found themselves outperformed by engines. I suspect this is happening here as well. And I also suspect its going to take a good deal longer.

AStonesThrow 2y ago

Interesting - you're not logged into Maps? The rideshare tab in Maps gives me time/distance/traffic estimates and no prices. Whether I'm logged in, or Incognito. No prices unless I tap "Open App ->" There is no rideshare tab in the desktop version, only tried it on my Android.

BearOso 2y ago
I'm looking at it now, but it no longer shows Uber as an option for me, only Lyft, and it doesn't show prices. I guess that was short-lived. Last time I used it was a month or so ago.
- AStonesThrow 2y ago
  Interestingly, Uber and Waymo have partnered in some markets, for example Austin/Atlanta, where riders must use the Uber app to summon an autonomous Waymo: https://waymo.com/blog/2024/09/waymo-and-uber-expand-partnership/ https://waymo.com/blog/2024/09/waymo-and-uber-expand-partner... In my market, Maps is showing me options for Lyft or Waymo autos only. However, Lyft is co-branded with scooters and e-bikes, so if I opened that app instead, I'd be presented with even more options. So, our Maps experience may depend on the market and other variables, which brings us back to TFA's topic, I suppose.