Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have helped to mitigate racial discrimination against Black passengers—at least when it comes to wait times, a new study from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has revealed. Researchers found that the technology’s ability to rapidly rematch canceled rides plays a key role in lessening the impact of discriminatory behavior. A Complex Issue with Tech-Led Solutions Historically, Black passengers hailing taxis faced rampant discrimination, often enduring longer wait times or outright rejections. An academic study had revealed a troubling pattern of discrimination by Uber and Lyft
A beauty pageant controversy has ignited a cross-border feud between Nigeria and South Africa, with ride-hailing apps Uber and Bolt becoming the unlikely battlegrounds. The Miss South Africa controversy Last month, Chidimma Adetshina was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest after becoming a finalist due to xenophobic backlash. The 23-year-old law student says she was born in Soweto, South Africa to a Nigerian father and South African mother with Mozambican roots. After withdrawing from Miss South Africa, Adetshina later accepted an invitation to participate in Miss Universe
Kenyan drivers for ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt are pushing back against unsustainable earnings by setting their own fares, defying the companies’ algorithmic pricing models. This rebellion is fueled by the rising cost of living and ongoing economic challenges in the East African nation, according to Reuters. Drivers Push Back Against Falling Fares Across Nairobi, drivers are feeling the pinch of a brutal price war between global and local ride-hailing companies, including Uber, Bolt, Little, and Faras. The fierce competition has driven fares to what many drivers consider unlivable
Pa Edrissa Manjang, a Black Uber Eats driver in Oxfordshire, UK, received a payout after facial-recognition checks prevented him from accessing the app, the BBC reported. Racially Discriminatory Facial Recognition Checks Initially, when Manjang began working for Uber Eats in November 2019, the Microsoft-powered app didn’t frequently request facial verification. However, as the app’s AI-driven checks increased, Manjang faced an unexpected hurdle. Manjang said he was asked to take photos of himself “multiple times a day” because the system failed to recognize him. He told Uber Eats: “Your algorithm, by the looks of things, is racist.”
Uber Technologies Inc. has officially led a $100 million Series B funding round for Moove, an African mobility fintech company. This investment propels Moove’s valuation to an impressive $750 million and marks Uber’s first foray into African continent investment. Moove Founded in Lagos in 2020 by British-born Nigerian entrepreneurs Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Moove has revolutionized vehicle financing. It operates with a business model that provides access to vehicle ownership for mobility entrepreneurs who traditionally face barriers in accessing financing. Moove’s model allows drivers to own vehicles by paying a portion of their weekly income, which
Uber Technologies Inc. is set to invest in Nigerian startup Moove in a funding round that could reach up to $100 million, Bloomberg reports. Moove Founded in Lagos in 2020 by British-born Nigerian entrepreneurs Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Moove has expanded its reach beyond its origins. The duo’s aim is to build the world’s largest integrated vehicle financing platform for mobility entrepreneurs. With its headquarters in Amsterdam, the company now operates across Africa, the UK, the UAE, and India. Moove’s innovative business model revolves around a unique credit-scoring system,
Uber has hired Snaps Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Oona King as their new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Meet Oona King Oona King is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) executive with over twenty years of experience. King has made her mark in several companies, including the Chief Diversity Officer at Channel 4 for over seven years, Global Director of Diverse Marketing at YouTube, and Director of Diversity Strategy at Google. She also became the second Black woman elected to the British Parliament in 1997 and was an advisor
Karat’s Brillant Black Minds has welcomed new partners to its program, joining investors such as Serena Williams, levelling the playing field for Black software engineers. Brillant Black Minds Brilliant Black Minds was co-founded in 2021 and launched as a solution for Black engineers lacking access and resources to excel in the tech industry. The Brillant Black Minds program aims to bridge this gap through mentorship, networking opportunities, and more. The program recently received investment from tennis champion Serena Williams to help aspiring Black engineers enter the tech industry and change the narrative. “We’re focused on
Laphonza Butler has been sworn in to fill the Senate seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who passed away last week at age 90. California Gov. Gavin Newsom had selected Laphonza Butler to succeed Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator in history. Butler, the former president of EMILY’s List, is known for her work as a union leader but was also a director at Airbnb and advised Uber during its conflict over workers’ rights. A historic appointment Butler is now the third female Black senator in US history. She is also
Uber’s Chief DEI Officer Bo Young Lee has been placed on a leave of absence following employee complaints about “Don’t Call Me Karen” events which aimed to explore the “spectrum of the American white woman’s experience.” Concerns raised by Black and Hispanic employees prompted Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Chief People Officer Nikki Krishnamurthy to request Lee’s temporary step back while they assess the situation. “We have heard that many of you are in pain and upset by yesterday’s Moving Forward session,” they wrote in an email seen by The
