Uber is undertaking a significant transformation, seeking to become far more than the ride-hailing application that originally defined its brand. Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi has articulated a broader vision for the company—one in which Uber evolves into a dynamic, multifaceted platform where individuals can not only secure transportation or food deliveries but also find various forms of employment and income-generating opportunities. During the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Khosrowshahi elaborated on this ambition, emphasizing that Uber’s identity has long been rooted in its ability to connect users with rides to the airport or to bring meals conveniently to their front doors. However, he encouraged investors and users alike to reimagine Uber’s platform from a different perspective—as a comprehensive hub for work in the modern economy.
In his remarks, Khosrowshahi explained that while Uber’s foundation rests on transportation, the company is increasingly capable of enabling and supporting other types of labor through its digital infrastructure. This broader interpretation of Uber’s purpose includes leveraging its vast user base and technological resources to empower individuals to engage in innovative forms of digital work. He pointed to Uber’s recent pilot initiative as a key example of this evolution. Launched last month in the United States, the program allows users to take on small online tasks that involve training artificial intelligence systems. These specialized micro-jobs, referred to internally as “Digital Tasks,” are already available to users in India and are now being extended into additional markets.
Through these Digital Tasks, workers might engage in activities such as annotating or labeling footage captured by security cameras, identifying objects within those images, or helping AI models learn to interpret human speech through the analysis of voice recordings. Khosrowshahi noted that many of these opportunities are suitable for individuals who are already familiar with the Uber app and who may currently earn income as drivers or delivery couriers. For them, Digital Tasks represent a flexible, supplemental way to earn money using skills that differ from those required in traditional gig work.
The introduction of Digital Tasks also coincides with a period of profound change in the ride-hailing industry. Companies like Uber are heavily investing in self-driving technology, experimenting with autonomous vehicles that have the potential to redefine mobility services. While this technological progress holds promise for efficiency and safety, it also raises significant questions for human drivers about the long-term sustainability of their roles. Acknowledging this reality, Khosrowshahi has presented these AI-related projects as a potential solution—a means to offer alternative employment pathways for drivers who might one day see their traditional sources of income diminish as robotaxis become more prevalent.
Nevertheless, Khosrowshahi emphasized that not all of Uber’s new work opportunities will rely solely on the existing driver base. Some of the roles within the digital labor ecosystem demand advanced expertise and are designed to attract a different demographic—highly educated professionals, including those who hold advanced degrees such as PhDs. He cited physics as an example of a discipline where such qualifications might be necessary, noting that the compensation for these sophisticated gigs would be higher than what Uber’s drivers typically earn. This diversification of skill requirements highlights the company’s intent to expand both the kinds of work available and the variety of workers it welcomes onto its platform.
Ultimately, Khosrowshahi characterized the Digital Tasks initiative as an opportunity for Uber to contribute meaningfully to the future of work. As global labor markets evolve under the influence of automation and artificial intelligence, Uber aims to position itself as a mediator and facilitator of emerging forms of employment. Although these new ventures currently represent only a modest portion of the company’s business, Khosrowshahi expressed confidence that the model could grow significantly—just as Uber once scaled its ride-hailing and food-delivery operations into major revenue drivers. He revealed that Uber is already attracting a substantial number of clients who require individuals to assist in developing and training AI systems.
In conclusion, Khosrowshahi stated his belief that this expansion into the digital labor economy could ultimately become a profitable and sustainable line of business, reinforcing Uber’s evolution from a transportation service into a wide-ranging platform where technology, flexibility, and human expertise converge to redefine how people work in the twenty-first century.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-platform-for-work-gigs-for-phds-2025-11
