A decade ago, nobody was very familiar with mobile-first companies, let alone cab-ordering services. But 2011 not only brought with it mobile-first companies but also ride-hailing services. When you combine both of those, there is one company that comes to mind, Uber. Uber is one of such companies that has made quite a name for itself. This app has made all our lives easier since one can order a cab for themselves whenever they need it, whether it is an emergency or to go to work. Mobile-first companies such as Uber have built their business around mobiles.
Uber is one of the ride-hailing companies that operate worldwide. Though Uber launched in 2009 in the United States, it didn’t start running in other countries immediately. The app and its services first went international in 2011 when they first extended their services to Paris. Over time, Uber has brought in many developments and has also started using AI for better ride experiences for their customers. Uber does have many rivals, such as Lyft, which is also based in the US. Still, it is the first-ever taxi company which has started improving their services with artificial intelligence.
AI features Uber uses for each ride
At present, Uber does not just focus on mobile phones as being their core concept. They have now started to focus on artificial intelligence as well. It is a core concept, and there is no ambiguity whether it should be used or not. Jairam Ranganathan, the product director at Uber, stated that they don’t even think about it anymore. It goes without question that they must use AI. He said it is much like “not thinking about computers.”
Simply put, machine learning, artificial intelligence, neural networks, etc., are now the most crucial parts of every business process at Uber. Ranganathan mused in an AI-focused conference that they used AI in all aspects of its application. Their most significant success has been in the customer support system.
Uber uses artificial intelligence for applications, including safety processes, fraud detection, matching riders to drivers, risk assessment, driver onboarding, route optimization, etc. Some of the features where Uber uses AI are listed below.
Communication with the driver by One-Click Chat
Suppose you are standing on a curb waiting for your cab. Even as time passes, you see that the car icon is not swaying one bit from a particular location. That would be incredibly frustrating to you as a rider. You would naturally want to text the driver asking if everything is okay. But if the Uber driver has you text you back while he’s driving, it would be a safety risk to him.
Moreover, texting and driving are illegal in many jurisdictions. That is why the data scientists at Uber developed “One-Click Chat.” One-Click Chat is a feature on UberChat that enables both riders and drivers to send personalized responses that are fast and dynamic. This feature comes from a combination of supervised, that is, machine-learning and unsupervised methods.
