Uber executives disclosed during a third-quarter 2026 earnings call that third-party AI agents accounted for a negligible fraction of the company's total transactions. During the week of Halloween, the company recorded only four rides arranged by AI agents and approximately 500 Uber Eats orders fulfilled by such bots, out of a total of 320 million combined rides and deliveries.
The disclosure comes as industry experts raise concerns regarding disintermediation, a process where customers use autonomous AI agents like Meta’s Muse or OpenAI’s Dots to book services rather than using platform apps directly. While some startups and major tech firms are developing agents capable of handling tasks, Uber's current data suggests the technology has not yet significantly impacted its user base. This trend mirrors recent reports from DoorDash, which stated it has also seen only a few hundred orders from AI agents.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi noted that the current level of engagement is minimal but expressed an openness to working with third-party developers. He suggested that the company views these agents as a potential opportunity to expand the ecosystem rather than a threat to direct app usage. "It is just very, very early, and we want to make sure we are not dependent on any one player, and I think we are very well positioned in this environment going forward," Khosrowshahi said.
To maintain direct customer engagement, Uber is developing its own internal AI tools, such as the Cart Assistant for Uber Eats, which can build grocery lists from text prompts or images. Khosrowshahi also highlighted that the speed of the existing Uber app—averaging 50 seconds to book a ride and 90 seconds to re-order food—remains highly efficient for users.
