Peeking under the hood at Uber

Posted by Betsy Masiello, Director of Policy and Communications

Growing up, all I knew about my dad’s work was that he “kept the lights on.” It’s probably an apt description for most work: it keeps the lights on. But in my dad’s case, it was the simplest way to explain that he worked on electric power systems, a topic too complex to explain to an eight-year-old.

Today the simplest parts of our lives are also the most complex. And for most tech companies, that is the goal: use (often complicated) technology to make your customers’ lives simpler and easier. At Uber we want to make it possible for anyone anywhere to push a button and get a ride. Simple! And yet…not quite that simple. There’s a lot that has to happen to make that possible. After all, it was only a few years ago that to get a car you either had to stand on the street waving your hand in the air or call a number, explain your whereabouts and then wait. It’s hard to believe that in such a short time, we’ve gone from all of that to…just pushing a button.

That’s why so many people, including policymakers, want to better understand what happens when they use Uber. So we’re going to pop open the hood and share a bit about what makes Uber, Uber. Here at Under the Hood we’ll do our best to answer some of the questions people have: how pricing works; how rides are insured; what drivers earn; Uber’s approach to safety; and how we think about entrepreneurialism and innovation.

We’re also going to dive a bit deeper on some of the tough issues cities and governments are grappling with. What’s causing gridlock on our city streets, and what should be done about it? What does the future of work really look like? How should companies like Uber be regulated? What can be done to increase mobility options for those who need them most? Uber can’t answer these questions alone, so we’ll be inviting guests to share their research and experience here, too.

Buckle up—we hope it’ll be an unforgettable ride!