The LegalRideshare Podcast

Hosted by LegalRideshare

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Episodes

143

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

LegalRideshare's co-founder & lead attorney Bryant Greening talks with Jared Hoffa about gig worker related news, issues and events that happened during the week. LegalRideshare was launched nearly a decade ago after Uber and Lyft drivers messaged attorney Bryant Greening with questions about accidents and didn't know where to turn. To understand this new industry, Bryant signed up to become an Uber driver to step into his clients' shoes. Fast forward to today, LegalRideshare is entirely focused on gig worker accident and injury cases. We've served thousands of clients around the country and secured millions for drivers and gig workers. Questions? Concerns? Free consultations at LegalRideshare.com

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June 9, 20266 min

AI Caps, Job Cuts and Waitlists.

Uber caps spending, Uber also cuts jobs and a waitlist for robotaxis. LegalRideshare breaks it down. UBER CAPS AI SPENDING Uber is capping AI usage. Bloomberg reported: The rideshare giant is limiting all employees to $1,500 in monthly token spending per AI coding tool, an Uber spokesperson said in response to a Bloomberg News inquiry. That means spending on one tool doesn't have a bearing on the budget for another. The limits, which have been instituted in recent months, only apply to agentic coding software such as Cursor or Anthropic PBC's Claude Code. The limits, which have not been reported, come in response to Uber's growing embrace of AI tools internally. Chief Technology Officer Praveen Neppalli Naga told the Information in April that the company had already maxed out its full-year AI budget. Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said last month that about 10% of the company's code was submitted and built by AI agents, and that the legal and marketing teams have seen an uptick in usage. Beyond Uber, other companies in different sectors are toeing a line between “tokenmaxxing” — maximizing AI usage for a productivity boost — while trying to rein in associated costs. Walmart Inc. has capped staffers' use of an in-house AI agent that helps with workplace tasks, according to people familiar with the decision. UBER CUTS JOBS Uber is slashing jobs. Bloomberg reported: Uber Technologies Inc. said it is cutting 23% of jobs in a division that includes human resources, recruitment, workplace facilities and culture, part of a move by the rideshare company's newly promoted president Jill Hazelbaker to simplify team structure. The cuts to the People and Places division, many of which are senior roles, represent less than 1% of Uber's 34,000 employees around the world, according to a company spokesperson. Its approximately 10 million drivers are mostly classified separately as independent contractors. HR employees who had previously been approved to work remotely are also being asked to return to the office to comply with a three-day-a-week office mandate that went into effect last June. Uber has differed from other tech companies conducting mass layoffs in the name of AI-driven investment and efficiencies, instead cutting in a more targeted way to trim costs. It's still hiring for more than 800 roles, including for commercializing robotaxis. It said last month that it would slow hiring due to internal use of AI. UBER CREATES A WAITLIST Uber is creating a waitlist for its robotaxis. Bloomberg reported: Uber Technologies Inc. has set up a waitlist for customers interested in riding in a robotaxi in London, ahead of a planned commercial debut in the UK this year. Customers in the UK can join an “interest list” in the Uber app starting Monday to indicate their preference and increase their chances of being matched with a Wayve Technologies Ltd. robotaxi when the service begins, Uber said in a statement. The ride-hailing company didn't disclose a timeline for the launch. Like the Uber app in Austin and Atlanta, where the company works with Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo to offer driverless rides, customers in London will have the option to accept a driverless vehicle or switch to a human-driven ride. While Waymo has been in the lead in expanding across the US, other companies are accelerating robotaxi rollouts globally. Uber has partnered with more than a dozen technology and vehicle partners, including China's WeRide Inc. and Pony AI Inc., to offer driverless rides on its app in the Middle East and parts of Europe. The upcoming launch would mark Wayve's first passenger service after tests across Europe, North America and Japan in recent years. In February, it raised $1.5 billion from investors including Eclipse Ventures LLC, Balderton Capital, SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Uber at a $8.6 billion valuation. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.

May 29, 202615 min

Union, Tokens and Waymo

DRIVERS FORM FIRST UNION IN MASS. Uber and Lyft drivers have formed the first rideshare union. Reuters reported: The newly formed App Drivers Union received certification, opens new tab from the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations on Friday to represent nearly 70,000 ride-share drivers operating as independent contractors in the state. That vote followed a years-long, nationwide battle over whether ride-share drivers should be considered independent contractors or employees entitled to benefits and wage protections. Drivers for Uber and Lyft do not have the right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act, a federal law that covers only traditional employees. But under the state law, drivers could form a union after collecting signatures from at least 25% of active drivers in Massachusetts — a condition that was met by union supporters. The union is backed by 32BJ SEIU, an affiliate of the Service Employees &zwnj;International Union, ⁠and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. “The workers who built these billion-dollar corporations deserve a union contract and a seat at the table,” IAM President Brian Bryant said at Tuesday's rally. UBER IS “TOKENMAXXING” Uber is burning through tokens. Business Insider reported: In a Rapid Response interview released on Saturday, Uber's operations chief, Andrew Macdonald, said it was becoming harder to justify AI costs within the company. He said that Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga went viral after telling The Information in an April interview that Uber had already blown through its Claude Code budget for 2026. He said that, based on talks with Uber's senior engineering leaders, he realized higher token usage did not translate into a proportional increase in useful consumer features. He said that the trade-off costs from AI are harder to justify because he can't draw a direct link. Earlier this month, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an earnings call that Uber was slowing hiring to counter its investments in AI. WAYMO RIDE ENDS EARLY A Waymo ride ended early and promotes Uber. Business Insider reported: That is roughly how far Schwartz said he was from his hotel in downtown San Francisco when the Waymo taxi he and his wife were riding in suddenly stopped and refused to move. The couple visited the city earlier this month. As Schwartz tried to figure out what was going on in a conversation with Waymo support, the employee on the phone said that there was a “huge blockage” preventing the car from reaching his hotel. Then, the employee told Schwartz: “You can request another ride, probably Uber or Lyft,” according to a video Schwartz posted on LinkedIn. A Waymo spokesperson said that the car was halted because of a “restriction placed after our operations team learned of planned protest activity.” The spokesperson did not respond when asked what protest was taking place. Waymo suggests other transportation options when cars cannot reach a passenger's destination, the company said. “We're looking into this further to see how we could have better served the rider in this case, in addition to providing a refund,” the spokesperson said. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.

May 22, 202616 min

Uber Brings Back AVs & Waymo Halts Service: What Drivers Need to Know.

In this update, we dive into the latest shakeups in the gig economy and autonomous vehicle space. We discuss Airbnb's unexpected move into the car rental market, what's behind Waymo's decision to stop service in Atlanta, and Uber's major move to bring autonomous vehicles back to its platform. Topics covered in this video: • Airbnb adding car rentals to its platform • Waymo suspending its autonomous services in Atlanta • Uber reintroducing self-driving vehicles to the road Stay informed and protect yourself on the road. If you've been in an accident while driving for Uber, Lyft, or delivering for gig apps, we have your back. https://LegalRideshare.com Hashtags: #LegalRideshare #RideshareNews #Uber #Waymo #Airbnb #GigEconomy #RideshareDriver #AutonomousVehicles #UberDriver #SelfDrivingCars

May 15, 20268 min

This Week In Rideshare: Waymo Recalls, Uber vs Waymo, and Robots In Philly

WAYMO RECALLS 3800 ROBOTAXIS Press enter or click to view image in full size Waymo is recalling 3800 robotaxis. CNBC reported: Waymo is recalling about 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix software issues that could allow them to “drive onto a flooded roadway,” according to a letter on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website. The voluntary recall is for Waymo vehicles that use the company's fifth and sixth generation automated driving systems (or ADS), the U.S. auto safety regulator said in the letter posted Tuesday. Waymo autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas were recently seen on camera driving onto a flooded street and stalling, requiring other drivers to navigate around them. Similar incidents have occurred in other locations, the latest safety-related issues for the Alphabet-owned AV unit that's rapidly bolstering its fleet of vehicles and entering new U.S. markets. Waymo has drawn criticism for its vehicles failing to yield to school buses in Austin, and for the performance of its vehicles during widespread power outages in San Francisco in December, when robotaxis halted in traffic, causing gridlock. The company said in a statement on Tuesday that it's “identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways,” and opted to file a “voluntary software recall” with the NHTSA. UBER VS WAYMO Press enter or click to view image in full size Uber takes shots at Waymo. Business Insider reported: In recent months, Uber and its executives have taken direct and indirect shots at its robotaxi partner Waymo, warning against autonomous vehicle operators trying to scale on their own while also criticizing Waymo's deployment strategy and technology, with one executive sharing a video on X of a “scary Waymo moment.” The comments portray AV-only operators like Alphabet's Waymo as less scalable, less equitable, and less reliable than a hybrid approach — with a mix of human and automated drivers — that makes Uber the AV partner of choice. Taken together, Uber's statements show the delicate role it's trying to play as an arbiter between two competing forces: cities and labor groups skeptical of driverless fleets, and AV companies seeking to usher in a new era of transportation. “Despite the incredible progress AVs are making around the world, and the enormous potential they hold, they are still far from capable of meeting the level of reliability and ubiquity that customers and cities expect,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in February, adding that the AV operators' limits “only serve to reinforce the value of a hybrid network.” UBER EATS ROBOTS EXPAND IN PHILLY Press enter or click to view image in full size More robots are coming to Philly. Philadelphia Inquirer reported: Uber Eats has expanded its autonomous robot delivery service to all restaurants within its designated operation zone in Center City, six restaurants on the platform told The Inquirer. The food delivery service rolled out a small fleet of battery-powered bots in March, with about two dozen restaurants signing up for the pilot. But in recent weeks, restaurateurs who, like Seorabol owner Eunice Cho, do not remember signing up for the program have been instructed by the Uber Eats app to go outside and place orders inside a blinking bot. Alex Lin, chef at Chinese and Japanese restaurant Green Garden, said he started seeing bots picking up orders as early as April despite not having opted in to any programs. Mira Kim, owner of Koreana, said the same, noting sometimes she would see one bot pickup in a day or as many as five. Uber Eats said as part of its pilot, the fleet of autonomous delivery robots would operate within the area bound by Race, Spruce, 18th, and Front Streets. The plan was to eventually add more restaurants in coming months, though the expansion appears to have taken place in a matter of weeks, according to restaurants. The company has emphasized in previous statements that the robots, manufactured by Avride, are not meant to replace humans. The robots can operate up to a two-mile radius, keeping a charge for up to 12 hours. In Philadelphia, the 12th city where the Uber Eats bots have been deployed, they are allowed to operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.

May 8, 202627 min

This Week In Rideshare: OpenAI, China + Robotaxis and DoorDash / Gas.

Uber leans on OpenAI, China puts the breaks on robotaxis and DoorDash offers relief. LegalRideshare breaks it down. UBER USES OPENAI Uber is using OpenAI to “help people”. From Uber: Uber has long used machine learning to support its marketplace. And now, with the benefit of large language models and OpenAI frontier models, Uber can reason across complex signals more quickly, deliver fast conversational responses, and power voice experiences inside the app. The collaboration between Uber and OpenAI is helping Uber build AI-powered products that simplify earning opportunities for drivers and couriers and reduce friction for riders. And using OpenAI's models, Uber can ship streamlined products and experiences faster than ever. For drivers, flexibility is one of Uber's biggest strengths. Some drive full-time, others just on weekends, while some drive between classes or shifts. This flexibility also means drivers are constantly evaluating options and asking questions: Where should I position myself right now? Is the airport worth driving to? Should I switch from rides to deliveries during lunch? Why did my earnings look different today? To help answer those questions, Uber developed Uber Assistant, an AI-powered assistant designed to help drivers throughout their lifecycle on the platform — from onboarding and first trips to day-to-day earnings optimization. CHINA STOPS ROBOTAXI LICENSES China has put the breaks on robotaxi licenses. Fortune reported: On March 31, over a hundred of Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis simultaneously froze on the streets of Wuhan. Vehicles stalled on overpasses and elevated roads, trapping passengers for up to two hours. A few weeks later, Beijing suspended all new autonomous driving permits nationwide. The suspension suspension blocked robotaxi companies from adding to their fleets, starting new tests, or expanding to additional cities, according to Bloomberg. In the U.S., meanwhile, some autonomous vehicles are driving into street lights and even into the middle of ongoing crime scenes. In just one month in Austin, Tesla's robotaxis crashed into a fixed object head on and in reverse, while also hitting trees, poles, buses and trucks. Waymo's robotaxis are incapable of closing their own doors — and the company has taken to hiring DoorDashers to door dash and close the doors after a passenger gets out. In October 2023, a Cruise AV dragged a pedestrian 20 feet. The U.S. has no federal autonomous vehicle safety law. The SELF DRIVE Act of 2026, a bipartisan House bill, would create the first statute, yet it remains a draft. Earlier versions in 2017 and 2021 died without passage. DOORDASH TO SPEND $50M ON GAS PRICE RELIEF DoorDash is spending over $50M to help with gas prices. AP News reported: The San Francisco-based company said in March that it would offer extra compensation to U.S. and Canadian drivers as part of a temporary program to offset a sharp increase in gas prices due to the Iran war. The national average for a gallon of gas on Wednesday was $4.53, up 44% from a year ago, according to AAA. The company said it's paying for gas price relief by adjusting investments in other areas. DoorDash said in November that it would be spending heavily on new products and services this year, including the addition of restaurant reservations in its app and robot deliveries. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.

May 1, 202612 min

Uber & Lyft Slashed Driver Pay While Gas Prices Soar! | Waymo Fails Again

In this episode of This Week In Rideshare, Jared Hoffa is behind the wheel breaking down the massive challenges facing gig workers this week. With US fuel prices surging to a record average of nearly $3 a gallon, Uber and Lyft's so-called "support" programs are being called a slap in the face by drivers who are losing money on every ride. We also dive into the growing concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles. Emergency responders are speaking out about Waymo's increasingly dangerous performance, citing frozen vehicles and traffic violations that are actively hindering police and firefighters. Finally, we look at the blurring lines between gig apps as Uber partners with Expedia to add hotel bookings to its platform, signaling a major shift in the tech industry. Have you been injured in an Uber, Lyft, or delivery accident? Don't fight the insurance companies alone. Call us for a FREE consultation: (312) 767-7950 Visit us: https://www.legalrideshare.com Email: help@legalrideshare.com LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States dedicated entirely to Uber®, Lyft®, and gig economy injury claims. We've helped thousands of gig workers protect their rights and recover millions.

April 24, 202614 min

Uber Sued Over Unfair Deactivations! (Plus Airbnb's New Car Service & Waymo Chaos)

What happens when the promises of Prop 22 fall short? In this episode of This Week in Rideshare, LegalRideshare breaks down the latest lawsuit against Uber in California. Drivers are suing the rideshare giant for failing to provide a proper appeals process for unfair deactivations, leaving many gig workers high and dry without due process. Plus, is Airbnb entering the rideshare game? We discuss Airbnb's new partnership to offer private airport pickups and what this "hotel-like" service could mean for the future of the transportation industry. Finally, we look at the latest autonomous vehicle chaos as Waymo robotaxis go viral for blocking traffic and causing a massive standstill at an intersection in Atlanta. Have you been injured in a rideshare, delivery, or Waymo accident? Don't fight the insurance companies alone. Call us: (312) 767-7950 Visit us: https://www.legalrideshare.com Email: help@legalrideshare.com LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.

April 17, 202610 min

Uber Accident? Minor Injuries Cause Major Issues

In this episode of This Week in Rideshare, LegalRideshare breaks down why you should never ignore a "minor" injury after an Uber or Lyft accident. From soft tissue damage to hidden strains, we explain how even seemingly small accidents can cause major pain and serious disruptions to your daily life and income. Attorney Bryant Greening explains how rideshare insurance companies try to classify claims as "minor" or "soft tissue" to severely underpay injured victims. Learn exactly why seeking immediate medical attention is crucial for both your physical health and your injury claim, and find out how you can recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Have you been injured in a rideshare or delivery accident? Don't fight the insurance companies alone. Call us: (312) 767-7950 Visit us: https://www.legalrideshare.com Email: help@legalrideshare.com LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free. #UberAccident #LegalRideshare #PersonalInjury #UberDriver #LyftAccident #RideshareLawyer #SoftTissueInjury #CarCrash #GigEconomy

March 20, 202622 min

Uber's $1.25B Robotaxi Deal & DoorDash Pays Drivers to Train AI?!

Uber dumps $1 Billion into robotaxis, DoorDash's new tasks and payouts take a turn. LegalRideshare breaks it down. UBER INVESTS $1.25B IN ROBOTAXIS Uber dumps major cash into Rivian. Bloomberg news reported: Uber Technologies Inc. plans to invest as much as $1.25 billion in carmaker Rivian Automotive Inc. to help launch a robotaxi fleet that will be available in the US, Canada and Europe over the next five years. Uber or its fleet partners will buy 10,000 autonomous Rivian R2 robotaxis and make them available exclusively on the Uber app starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, the two companies said in a joint statement on Thursday. As part of the partnership, Uber has committed to an initial $300 million investment in Rivian, subject to regulatory approval. The funding may increase to as much as $1.25 billion through 2031 if certain undisclosed “autonomous milestones” are met, the companies said. They also have the option to negotiate the purchase of as many as 40,000 more Rivian robotaxis beginning in 2030. DOORDASH'S NEW TASKS TRAIN AI DoorDash is using human tasks to train AI. Bloomberg reported: DoorDash Inc. is paying delivery couriers in some markets to submit video clips and complete other digital tasks to help improve artificial intelligence and robotics models, following competitors that have found creative new uses for gig workers in the AI boom. The delivery company has launched a new app called Tasks for those efforts, listing paid opportunities for activities such as recording an unscripted conversation in Spanish, or filming themselves completing various household chores like loading a dishwasher, handwashing dishes or folding clothes. UBER-BALLOT SPARKS CRASH PAYOUT DEBATE Uber is looking to throttle crash payouts. Axios reported: It would cap lawyers' fees in winning cases, so accident victims keep at least 75% of any settlement. (Lawyers typically take about a third in personal injury cases, per legal scholars.) It'd also limit medical cost reimbursement for accident victims. What they're saying: While the initiative might sound good on paper, Jamie Court of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog called it a “Trojan horse.” Lower fees would discourage lawyers from taking complex or costly cases and leave many victims without representation, especially when most families already can't afford to pay hourly rates, he told Axios. Court also argued that the reimbursement cap is far lower than hospitals' actual charges, potentially leaving patients covering the gap out of pocket or struggling to access care. That's a dangerous prospect, the nonprofit claims, arguing the measure could limit the legal consequences for other companies. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.

March 13, 202619 min

Are Food Drones Taking Over? (Plus: Female Driver Safety & Service Dog Laws)

UBER EXPANDS FEMALE DRIVERS Uber is expanding its female drivers. Bloomberg reported: Uber Technologies Inc. said that a feature designed to match female riders and drivers will be available nationwide, expanding access to a safety measure as it seeks to resolve thousands of sexual assault complaints from passengers in the US. The option will be available in markets like New York, Philadelphia and DC, following a pilot and subsequent launches in more than two dozen other US cities last year, the company said in a statement Monday. Riders will see a new on-demand booking option called “Women Drivers” alongside the existing UberX, Comfort, UberXL and Black offerings. Customers can reserve such a trip in advance, or set their preference in the app settings to increase the likelihood of being matched with a woman. The feature is also offered in cities where teen accounts are available. The move comes as Uber is fighting thousands of pending legal cases in the US that question if the company is responsible for the misconduct of drivers, who are classified as contractors rather than employees. In February, a jury returned a verdict that found Uber liable for not preventing an alleged sexual assault of a female passenger, who claimed that she was raped by her driver in Arizona in 2023. The company was ordered to pay $8.5 million in damages, raising its risk of a costly settlement to resolve other cases. GRUBHUB TESTS FOOD DRONES Grubhub is testing food delivery via drones. Bloomberg reported: Customers must be located within 2.5 miles of Grubhub parent Wonder Group Inc.'s restaurant location in suburban Green Brook, New Jersey. Items must also weigh under four pounds. After placing an order through the Grubhub app, users will see real-time GPS tracking, estimated arrival notifications and order confirmations. It aims to complete drone deliveries 5 to 8 minutes after the food is loaded into the autonomous carrier, and within 30 minutes after the order is placed, PJ Poykayil, senior vice president of customer delivery operations at Wonder and Grubhub, said in an interview. SERVICE DOG SPARKS NATIONAL DEBATE A service dog sparked a national debate. ABC new reported: College student Tori Andres turned to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after several Lyft drivers refused to let her service dog, Alfred, ride along with her. The agency investigated and determined that the company was violating the state's Human Rights Act. Both sides then negotiated a settlement that includes changes in driver training, and updates to the Lyft app that will make the agreement apply nationwide, not just in Minnesota. The terms require Lyft to train its drivers on the rights of passengers with disabilities, and warn them that they could be “deactivated” and lose their ability to drive for Lyft if they violate the law, state Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero told reporters. Drivers can't cancel or refuse a ride because a passenger has a service animal or wheelchair, or because they have low or no vision, she said. The state will monitor Lyft's compliance for three years, she added, and Andres will get a $63,000 monetary settlement. Changes to the Lyft app include giving riders the option of updating their accessibility settings to notify a driver that they're traveling with a service animal, and to report if they're denied service. Some of those features were already in place. Lyft agreed to follow up on every report it gets of driver refusals. Drivers who try to cancel or refuse a ride to a passenger who has disclosed their service animal in the app will immediately receive an in-app message reminding them, “It's against the law to refuse service animals,” and that they risk getting fired. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.