Uber to Cut 3,300 Jobs as It Bets on a Driverless Future

Uber announced this week that it will cut about 3,300 jobs, roughly 10% of its global corporate workforce. Most of the cuts will hit management positions rather than frontline roles. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company needs a "simpler and faster" structure to compete in a fast-changing industry. It is Uber's biggest round of layoffs since 2020.

The restructuring comes as Uber pushes hard into robotaxis and artificial intelligence. Self-driving cars are becoming a bigger part of the ride-hailing business, and Uber wants fewer layers of management to move quickly. As part of the shake-up, the company is also shutting down its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda. Investors reacted positively to the news, and Uber's stock price rose about 2.4% after the announcement.

This is not Uber's first round of cuts this year. Earlier in the summer, the company trimmed about 10% of its customer service staff, citing improvements from AI tools. Critics worry that constant restructuring creates uncertainty for workers, while supporters argue it keeps Uber competitive against rivals like Lyft and Waymo. Analysts say more ride-hailing and delivery companies may follow Uber's lead as automation reshapes the industry.