That the author even uses Uber as a rival to Weymo demonstrates their lack of awareness in the industry.
The current human-driver-driven model is a stopgap; they lose a lot of other people's money on every ride. Possible outcomes:
- Uber achieves a credible 1st-3rd place dominance in self-driving vehicles. Investors, frat boys win.
- Uber doesn't. Keeps human drivers, prices surge, Uber tanks.
- Uber doesn't. Contracts with Waymo or someone else for cars. Survives, but doesn't have much more than a crappy brand-name. Joins the ranks beside Yellow Cab.
- Uber implodes in a puff lawsuits, acrimony and skunked beer kegs. Sucks for the investors, but, eh. Uber is a cancer.
https://stratechery.com/2016/google-uber-and-the-evolution-o...
They also spend VC bucks funding operations (so their huge losses aren't just because of investments in technology, they are a direct result of operating at a loss).
However, the reality is Uber is only looking into self driving cars because otherwise it's going to destroy their business long term and they don't want their stock to tank today.
Another tact: Otto is accused of being involved in selling secrets. Uber bought Otto. Otto is now Uber. Therefore, Uber is accused of being involved in selling secrets.