((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
Uber Technologies UBER.N will deploy an AI assistant powered by OpenAI technology to help drivers transition to electric vehicles, as part of its efforts to reduce emissions.
The ride-hailing company has been advocating the move to EVs for several years and has committed $800 million to help its driver partners transition entirely to EVs by 2040.
The AI assistant, based on OpenAI’s GPT-4o, was unveiled at Uber’s Go-Get Zero event in London on Tuesday. The chatbot is expected to launch early next year in the United States and will later be expanded to other countries.
It will provide personalized responses based on the driver’s city and eligible incentives, Uber said. The company will also expand the use of the chatbot to answer questions beyond EVs in early 2025.
About 180,000 Uber drivers per month are adopting EVs in North America and Europe.
“Uber drivers are adopting EVs five times faster than the average motorist in the US, Canada and Europe. In London, almost 30% of all miles driven by Uber are now electric,” said the director General Dara Khosrowshahi.
Uber is also launching a mentoring program to match experienced electric vehicle drivers with drivers interested in switching to electric vehicles.
Additionally, Uber rewards top merchants on its food delivery platform with $50,000 to help fund their own sustainability initiatives and reach more customers.
Uber is also launching a series of pop-ups to allow customers to try out EVs. Users in London can try out the Lotus LOT.O Eletre, while those in Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas can book a ride in a Rivian
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