Uber CEO Envisions Autonomous Future for Ride-Hailing Services
In a recent interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shared his perspective on the evolution of cab services over the next 15 to 20 years. He predicted that autonomous vehicles could eventually complete a significant share of ride-hailing trips, marking a major shift from the current model.
Prediction of Robotaxi Dominance
Khosrowshahi stated, "You can imagine the majority of our trips being fulfilled by robots of some kind. Probably not 10 years from now, but you go 15 to 20 years from now, you’re going to start getting there." This vision comes as autonomous ride services are expanding in US cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Atlanta, where driverless vehicles are already being used for daily commutes, including school trips.
Current Market Expansion and Challenges
Companies such as Alphabet-backed Waymo, Tesla, and Amazon-backed Zoox are gradually building their presence in the emerging robotaxi market. This signals a shift from the traditional ride-hailing model that Uber introduced in 2009, which connects riders with independent drivers using their own vehicles. Uber's app-based system has attracted over 9.5 million contractors globally.
However, Khosrowshahi highlighted several challenges before large-scale driverless fleets can be deployed. "We don’t operate in the virtual world, we operate in the physical world. You have to get the regulations up. You have to build the cars. You have to build the sensor stacks; the models have to get there," he explained.
Uber's Initiatives and AI Impact
To advance this process, Uber recently launched Uber Autonomous Solutions, a new division focused on commercializing robotaxis globally by coordinating development across autonomous vehicle infrastructure, user experience, and fleet operations. Khosrowshahi also noted that AI-driven disruption extends beyond Uber drivers, predicting that within 10 years, AI could replace work done by 70% to 80% of humans. "Ten years is not a lot of time for society to adjust to that kind of an impact," he added.
In response, Uber is exploring ways to help contractors adjust by expanding work opportunities on its platform, such as delivery and shopping roles, which are less likely to be replaced by AI soon. In October 2025, the company launched an AI Solutions initiative, allowing contractors to train AI agents through their phones when not driving, with tasks like evaluating AI responses and translating material.
Market Projections and Future Outlook
A 2025 Goldman Sachs report estimated that the number of robotaxis in the US could rise from 1,500 in 2025 to around 35,000 by 2030, accounting for roughly 8% of the US ride-share market, with a compound annual growth rate of nearly 90%. Despite this growth, Khosrowshahi believes the market could eventually include up to 20 million robotaxis, far exceeding current projections.
An Uber spokesperson referred to earlier comments from Khosrowshahi, indicating that the company expects the number of drivers and couriers on its platform to keep increasing over the next several years, even as automation advances.
