This report out yesterday on Gigaom is well worth a read for Uber-watchers as it points out how Uber would be wise to keep a very close on eye on the newly-formed Alphabet. The company has been working on self-driving vehicle technologies for a while, and if Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick is believed, self-driving cars will replace the human drivers currently utilized by ride-hailing startups in a few decades. Of particular note: "It would make sense for Alphabet to focus on ride-sharing. The company has been working on self-driving vehicle technologies for a while... and its own autonomous car project could benefit from some of Google's experience in this area. " It might have been difficult for the company (Google) to introduce that service before, but as one venture capitalist already joked, Alphabet isn"t bound by any promises Google might have made to Uber."
This report out yesterday on Gigaom is well worth a read for Uber-watchers as it points out how Uber would be wise to keep a very close on eye on the newly-formed Alphabet. Of particular note: "It would make sense for Alphabet to focus on ride-sharing. The company has been working on self-driving vehicle technologies for a while... and its own autonomous car project could benefit from some of Google's experience in this area." It might have been difficult for the company (Google) to introduce that service before, but as one venture capitalist already joked, Alphabet isn"t bound by any promises Google might have made to Uber."