After Uber Destroyed Taxi Cabs, Drivers Now Face the Existential Threat of Self-Driving Cars
"It feels like every time I adjust to a new reality, another technology comes along and threatens my livelihood." The post After Uber Destroyed Taxi Cabs, Drivers Now Face the Existential Threat of Self-Driving Cars appeared first on Futurism .
The once-dominant taxi industry experienced a seismic shift when Uber entered the scene a decade ago, dismantling the traditional cab business model and leaving drivers disoriented. As self-driving vehicles rapidly materialize, the very livelihoods of these drivers now hang in the balance. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, a coalition of worker advocacy groups and unions is sounding the alarm, warning city officials about the imminent threat self-driving cars pose to workers' livelihoods.
The newly-formed App Drivers Union, along with transit workers from Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589 and Teamsters Local 25, have banded together in response to the increasing presence of Waymo vehicles, which have begun mapping the city's roads in preparation for a potential deployment of autonomous taxis. One rideshare driver, Abdazi Samantar, laments the loss of his cab business to Uber, lamenting how each adjustment to new technology brings the threat of job insecurity.
The impact of app-based rideshare services like Uber and Lyft on cab drivers mirrors the effects of robotaxis. In Atlanta, the Rideshare Drivers Union has observed a decline in wages, longer periods between rides, and fewer fares since Waymo arrived in the city in 2025. While state authorities have not yet taken steps to protect workers from these emerging technologies, Atlanta organizers have forged a strong movement around economic demands.
The union is proposing a "robotaxi impact fee" of $0.50 to $1.00 per ride, which would fund a "driver transition fund" offering job training and financial assistance to struggling drivers. Rideshare giants like Uber have responded by advocating for limits on autonomous vehicles, putting additional pressure on local lawmakers to protect workers' rights.
However, securing similar concessions for rideshare workers in Cambridge remains uncertain. As more streets are mapped by Waymo, the urgency of addressing the threat to drivers' jobs grows ever more pressing.
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