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> Starting today, riders who request an UberX, Uber Green, Comfort, or Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PAC

> Starting today, riders who request an UberX, Uber Green, Comfort, or Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle – at no additional cost. That made legit laugh out loud. No additional cost? Are you for real Uber? It should be significantly cheaper.

xnx 2y ago
Why should a totally private ride with a safe driver cost less than a ride with a driver who might be drunk, tired, distracted, reckless, and/or rude?
- throwawayffffas 2y ago
  "Safe driver" while the Waymo won't be drunk, tired, distracted, reckless or rude. It may fail in many other ways, from software bugs, ML errors, to hardware failure.
  - xnx 2y ago
    > It may fail in many other ways, from software bugs, ML errors, to hardware failure. Definitely a risk, but one that has been well studied. Waymo is safer than other drivers in the areas it operates: https://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/new-swiss-re-study-waymo https://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/new-swiss-re-study-waymo
- GuinansEyebrows 2y ago
  Do you not want it to cost less?
- nemothekid 2y ago
  Because the input costs are less?
ajmurmann 2y ago
Have you taken a Waymo before? The car and ride in general is much nicer than your average Uber or Lyft ride.
- throwawayffffas 2y ago
  I have not and I believe you. But seriously, the incentive for automating anything is cost. Even if it's nicer, the removal of the driver does not make it a "premium" service, it makes it an automated service. The expectation is lower cost not higher. I know that supply and demand and competition right now might be at a place where the same price for eventually the same service is expected. But still "at no additional cost" read hilarious.
  - xnx 2y ago
    > the incentive for automating anything is cost Cost savings are a huge factor, but in self-driving (and other areas) safety and consistency are equally important. Waymo's make mistakes, but they don't get tired, drunk, distracted, or angry.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - tfehring 2y ago
    Anecdotally, I use rideshare every workday for last-mile transit from the train station, and I’ll pick the $13 Waymo over the $7 Uber every time. There are some inherent advantages to the self-driving, like improved safety [0] and not having to talk to the driver, but the main benefits are that it’s just a consistent experience with nice quiet cars, ~90%-ile driving quality, and much more accurate time estimates. I look forward to competition bringing prices down, but on pure quality and willingness to pay, the premium price seems to make sense. [0] https://waymo.com/research/do-autonomous-vehicles-outperform-latest-generation-human-driven-vehicles-25-million-miles/ https://waymo.com/research/do-autonomous-vehicles-outperform...
  - ajmurmann 2y ago
    Maybe that's the true progress in self-driving. It's cheaper and better. It's a win/win. Now we just need UBI and it can be a win/win/win.
slaw 2y ago
Apollo Go robotaxi offers rides for 4 yuan/50 cents. https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/cars/china-baidu-apollo-go-robotaxi-anxiety-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/cars/china-baidu-apollo-go-ro...
jonas21 2y ago
This is a new technology. Early adopters of almost anything will pay more as it takes time to scale up and improve unit economics. reply

xnx 2y ago

Why should a totally private ride with a safe driver cost less than a ride with a driver who might be drunk, tired, distracted, reckless, and/or rude?

throwawayffffas 2y ago
"Safe driver" while the Waymo won't be drunk, tired, distracted, reckless or rude. It may fail in many other ways, from software bugs, ML errors, to hardware failure.
- xnx 2y ago
  > It may fail in many other ways, from software bugs, ML errors, to hardware failure. Definitely a risk, but one that has been well studied. Waymo is safer than other drivers in the areas it operates: https://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/new-swiss-re-study-waymo https://waymo.com/blog/2024/12/new-swiss-re-study-waymo
GuinansEyebrows 2y ago
Do you not want it to cost less?
nemothekid 2y ago
Because the input costs are less?

ajmurmann 2y ago

Have you taken a Waymo before? The car and ride in general is much nicer than your average Uber or Lyft ride.

throwawayffffas 2y ago
I have not and I believe you. But seriously, the incentive for automating anything is cost. Even if it's nicer, the removal of the driver does not make it a "premium" service, it makes it an automated service. The expectation is lower cost not higher. I know that supply and demand and competition right now might be at a place where the same price for eventually the same service is expected. But still "at no additional cost" read hilarious.
- xnx 2y ago
  > the incentive for automating anything is cost Cost savings are a huge factor, but in self-driving (and other areas) safety and consistency are equally important. Waymo's make mistakes, but they don't get tired, drunk, distracted, or angry.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- tfehring 2y ago
  Anecdotally, I use rideshare every workday for last-mile transit from the train station, and I’ll pick the $13 Waymo over the $7 Uber every time. There are some inherent advantages to the self-driving, like improved safety [0] and not having to talk to the driver, but the main benefits are that it’s just a consistent experience with nice quiet cars, ~90%-ile driving quality, and much more accurate time estimates. I look forward to competition bringing prices down, but on pure quality and willingness to pay, the premium price seems to make sense. [0] https://waymo.com/research/do-autonomous-vehicles-outperform-latest-generation-human-driven-vehicles-25-million-miles/ https://waymo.com/research/do-autonomous-vehicles-outperform...
- ajmurmann 2y ago
  Maybe that's the true progress in self-driving. It's cheaper and better. It's a win/win. Now we just need UBI and it can be a win/win/win.

slaw 2y ago

Apollo Go robotaxi offers rides for 4 yuan/50 cents. https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/cars/china-baidu-apollo-go-robotaxi-anxiety-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/cars/china-baidu-apollo-go-ro...

jonas21 2y ago

This is a new technology. Early adopters of almost anything will pay more as it takes time to scale up and improve unit economics. reply