Uber to launch OpenAI-powered AI assistant to answer driver EV questions

 At launch, the assistant will only answer questions about electric vehicles, like where to charge them or which one to buy, but the integration will potentially span into other use cases in the future, according to an Uber spokesperson.

Uber announced the integration with OpenAI’s new flagship model — which is capable of having human-like conversations and reasoning across text, audio, and vision — during its Go-Get event in London on Tuesday. 

Drivers will be able to access the AI assistant from the home screen of the Uber driver app, and the chatbot will be continuously updated with new information. Uber says it’ll also be able to provide personalized answers based on the driver’s needs, the city they live in, and available government incentives.   

An Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch that drivers will eventually be able to speak directly to the chatbot, in addition to sending text-based questions, and that the chatbot will be able to audibly respond to driver queries. 

It’s not clear in what languages the AI assistant will be available; Uber plans to share more details on supported languages closer to launch. OpenAI says GPT-4o can support over 50 languages. 

Uber’s AI assistant rollout will be coupled with an “EV mentorship program,” where highly rated drivers who have experience driving an EV can earn cash rewards and other incentives if they take on the mantle of being a mentor for drivers who want to learn more about the experience of owning an EV.