This clickbait title makes it sound like it’s some sort of weird glitch, when they could just say “Uber partners with Waymo for SXSW”
Even the first sentence clarifies that it is an opt in. But at that point they already have your* click.
Just a nit, but it's not "for SXSW" (i.e., temporary). Access via the Uber app is now the mechanism by which we're offering rides in Austin (and next, Atlanta).
I recently took a Waymo back to my hotel in Phoenix after a few drinks and it was a really pleasant experience. It didn’t take the freeways but it navigated the surface streets pretty much perfectly. It helped that it was about 25% the cost of an Uber at that time.
Robotaxis were Uber's goal from the beginning, right?
Uber's original goal was to vertically integrate and stop giving 40-60% to drivers. Uber has much less leverage in this arrangement than even what they're used to with drivers.
Does anybody know what percentage of a waymo ride's cost goes to Uber?
Not currently public. It's not necessarily a straight percentage of ride cost either based on experience in the industry.