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UBER HAS SEEN off much competition and controversy on the route to a $40 billion (€35.3 billion) valuation, but for a moment, it looked like one of its closest allies would become a rival.
Reports that Google was preparing its own lift-hailing service emerged after a Bloomberg piece cited a source close to Uber’s board. It said that Uber had seen screenshots of the service and were considering whether to ask Google’s Chief Legal Officer, David Drummond, to leave the board as a result.
Neither Uber nor Google responded to the rumours directly, the latter referring to a cryptic tweet that mentioned both Uber and one of its biggest rivals, Lyft, as a way of addressing the rumours.
Google / Twitter@business We think you'll find Uber and Lyft work quite well. We use them all the time.
— Google (@Google) February 2, 2015
It was believed that Google’s upcoming service would be offered in conjunction with its driverless car project, which has been in development for a number of years.
However, the Wall Street Journal reported that the upcoming service was actually an internal app which helps Google employees carpool to work. The service was made by a Google engineer and it wasn’t associated with the company’s driverless cars programme.
Uber counts Google Ventures as one of its biggest investors, having invested $258 million (€227 million) into the company back in August 2013. A number of Google’s services such as Google Now and Android Wear are integrated with Uber as a result.
The four-year old company has faced a significant amount of criticism concerning its business model, how it gathers data, and promotions to name a few. Despite that, it’s one of the fastest growing companies in the world, recently hitting a $40 billion (€35.2 billion) valuation.
Uber also announced a strategic partnership with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), which will focus on the “development of key long-term technologies.” The company will work closely with staff both on campus and at the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) to carry out research in areas like mapping, vehicle safety, and autonomy technology.
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Trump , Johnson and next Putin
@Aunties: Please don’t associate Johnson with Putin.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: dangerous men in different shapes . Good riddance
@Aunties: Say what you like, Johnson recognises strong democracy. Only strong democracy saw off Donald Trump. Removing Putin is a whole different ball game.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: he’s associated with Putin himself. He recently met with one of Putin’s henchmen, in private, in his residence, in Italy.
@Aunties: You’re absolutely right, all 3 of these people have psychotic delusions about their moral and intellectual superiority. They’re ALWAYS right, they’re NEVER wrong, they’re vision and values are right, what would lesser inferior “pleps” like us know. They have No empathy, no conscious, no concerns for anything except their own agenda. They’ve completely forgotten that government is supposed to be about what in the best interests of citizens and society. Or maybe that’s just a utopian dream ….
@Aunties: all excellent leaders, your right
@Shane Lad:
They have followers but that doesn’t make them leaders…
but they are only products of a deeper flaw
Zero humility. Blamed sledgers, leaders and those who abandoned him. Absolutely no ability to recognise his direction failings
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin:
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: Absolutely no accountability whatsoever.
@Brendan Kelly: I agree
Would be so on trend for FFFG to do the honorable thing also….ah, but we can only dream.
@Keth Warsaw:
What honorable thing?
The parties you are talking about got Ireland from a third world country to one of the richest in few decades… It is considered economic miracle…
Lets compare that to say Sinn Fein… The GFA was signed in the late 90s, Northern Ireland still has 75% of economy working directly or indirectly for the Birtish Government… During the COVID crisis they were will to bring down the Government in the North over the Irish Language but not the senseless COVID deaths due to lack of an Island policy…
So when you say honorable, Some leaders say unpopular things for the right reason like Martin, others say nothing and let bad things happen… Thanks for reminding me…
@Cowboy Paddy: ok…ok….
Unfortunately he’ll just be replaced by another tory toff. Will the labour party sort itself out to properly challenge them?
@Brian Dunne:
This will be an interesting race… If the Soft Brexit get a candidate in the final two it could be very interesting. For Ireland having Hunt in charge could cool things down a lot…
@Cowboy Paddy: From friends in UK I’m told that some of the checks at the ports are already being reduced and will be reduced further. The daftness of Brexit is beginning to hit home.
Its a bit like a soldier of private rank inspecting the troops instead of the General. If you have lost your party leadership , you have lost the prime ministers job….end of
Toodle-oo, muppet
Wobble
It’s everyone’s fault but mine
Wibble
Small bit of Latin….
Again I did nothing wrong it’s everyone else’s fault but mine
Great news that he finally stepped down, under duress of course. My opinion too is that he should be gone today. Let the deputy ( such as HE is )do a caretaker roll until a new one is appointed.
Pity he is still in charge until October.
He’s only staying on so that he has more time on the pitch than Theresa May in history books.
@Stephen Mogerley: Don’t forget the tax payer subsidized wedding party in Checkers at the end of this month
Will Ukraine still be a priority now that it hasn’t saved him?
They could do worse than have Mr Jason Resse Mogg in the top job. He has a certain and unique decorum about his person. He’ll be in the running for sure. Or I’ll eat my hat!
@Keth Warsaw: is this a parody account?
@Keth Warsaw: Unique indeed. The same Rees mogg who conceded that Britain would have a ten year recession as a result of Brexit. Meanwhile he and his missus ( both multi millionaires) have moved their business interests to Europe.
Covid and the war have distracted from Brexit but it was the worst move that the UK could ever have done.
@dreiglaser: You insult me Sir! Something something how dare you. But in reply to your question, indeed it is not. Not unless one sees the state of current world affairs as a parody also, and one realises that sincere and honest opinion like the fruit falling upon the concrete ground of an urban landscape is destined to succeed only in failing to propogate. But I thank you for your inquiry.
@Keth Warsaw: you could start eating anytime
@Bert Carolan: So….you are a fan or you’re not a fan? Labour just don’t have the charisma or the staunch leadership right now -all at sea – and dare I say, are still reeling from past scandals. Mogg, however he plays it, shows he’s an intelligent and concise individual, not to mention the aforementioned charisma, which thankfully he plays an octave or two lower than Boris.
@Ray Martin: Such ejaculations.
@Keth Warsaw: Not a fan. He and his like pushed for Brexit knowing that others would pay the price while they themselves would be insulated. Maybe I’m naive.
I can’t see any way he is elected Tory leader, too removed from the common man or at least that’s how he’d be perceived.
@Bert Carolan: The thumbs up say it all.
I’m still a fan.
Will he miss the wallpaper?
@Joe L: — All the sheets of wallpaper are zipped together, and they’re taking it with them when the van arrives. Like Trump, they’ll probably take anything else that isn’t bolted down. The front door will probably vanish as well, so that he and Carrie can pretend that they’re still living in Downing Street.
It’s laughable that he talks about his achievements in office, because if there were any to speak of, they wouldn’t have turfed him out.
Fry Piggy Fry … !!!
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