Uber is Rolling Out a New AI Assistant to Help Drivers with Electric Vehicle Questions

Uber is stepping up its efforts to increase the number of electric vehicles on its platform by introducing an AI chatbot for drivers. The AI assistant, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o, will be available to drivers in the U.S. starting early 2025. Initially, the chatbot will focus on answering questions related to electric vehicles, such as charging locations and recommendations for purchase.

During the Go-Get event in London, Uber announced the integration with OpenAI’s advanced model, capable of engaging in human-like conversations and reasoning across various mediums. The AI assistant will be accessible from the Uber driver app and will be regularly updated with new information. It will also provide personalized responses based on the driver’s location, needs, and available government incentives.

In addition to text-based questions, drivers will eventually be able to speak directly to the chatbot, which can audibly respond to queries. The availability of the AI assistant in different languages is yet to be confirmed, with OpenAI stating that GPT-4o can support over 50 languages.

Uber’s AI assistant launch will be accompanied by an “EV mentorship program,” where experienced EV drivers can earn rewards by mentoring others interested in learning about owning an electric vehicle. This initiative was part of Uber’s focus on climate and sustainability at the Go-Get event, where the company also announced updates to its Uber Green offering, allowing riders to choose EVs in over 180 markets and introducing an EV-only option in 40 cities, with more to follow. Riders can set their preference in the app to get matched with an EV when available.