Uber Plans to Turn Its Driver Fleet into a Sensor Network for Self-Driving Companies

The Plan

Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga unveiled plans at TechCrunch StrictlyVC to turn millions of drivers into a sensor grid for self-driving companies, extending the AV Labs program announced in January 2026.

How It Works

Uber vehicles would be equipped with cameras and sensors that passively collect road data during normal rides, then sold to AV developers needing real-world training data. Drivers earn additional income.

Why It Matters

Uber has unmatched data-collection infrastructure across thousands of cities. This is a new B2B revenue stream, though it raises passenger privacy questions.