Uber (UBER, Financials) is getting ready to take the driver out of the driver's seat—literally.
The ride-hailing giant said Tuesday it will launch its first driverless pilot in the UK through a partnership with Wayve, a London-based startup building AI software for self-driving cars.
The trials, expected to begin in London, will use Wayve's “AI Driver” to power cars that operate without human intervention. Uber said the UK's new “accelerated framework” for self-driving pilots made the move possible.
“This is a defining moment,” said Wayve CEO Alex Kendall. “We're putting AI Driver into real service.”
Uber COO Andrew MacDonald said the pilot pushes the company closer to making autonomy a reliable option for riders everywhere.
The companies are coordinating with the UK's Department for Transport and Transport for London to secure the green light. The UK's Autonomous Vehicles Act, passed last year, aims to get self-driving cars on the road by 2026.
