A Tesla-driving startup CEO can't be an Uber driver anymore
Flickr / JD Lasica
Onstage at the O'Reilly Next:Economy Summit on Thursday, Thrun recounted how he loved being an Uber driver - if only for a day.
"If anything at all, it gives you a fantastic dinner conversation," he said.
A former Google executive, who founded the company's self-driving car efforts, Thrun discussed his short-stint moonlighting as a driver for the ride-hailing service.
He took his Tesla to the Uber car center to be inspected, but had to help them through the process. Then he picked up two passengers who both gave him five stars.
He was pretty proud of it, until he was suddenly locked out of the platform.
"The sad part is, for whatever reason, I can't get customers any more," Thrun said.
Thrun wasn't too distraught - he does have a lot to do as CEO and cofounder of online education company Udacity, which just raised $105 million in funding. In fact, he thought it was kind of great to be relieved of his duties.
"I think the ability to take these jobs quickly and lose them is great," Thrun said.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema
- Reliance gets thumbs-up from S&P, Fitch as strong earnings keep leverage in check
- Realme C65 5G with 5,000mAh battery, 120Hz display launched starting at ₹10,499
- 8 Fun things to do in Kasol
- SC rejects pleas seeking cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT
- Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 electric sports bike launched in India starting at ₹2.99 lakh