Uber selfie tech could verify drivers are wearing masks

When Uber rolled out its selfie process for drivers in 2016, the trip-hailing corporation was concentrated on protecting against fraud. In the long term, it could be utilized to assure drivers are putting on a mask.

Uber mentioned previously this week — CEO Dara Khosrowshahi reiterated Thursday — that it is operating by designs to require drivers and riders to use experience masks or experience coverings as it prepares to ramp its trip-hailing enterprise again up immediately after getting hobbled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The mask need will be issued in particular international locations, which includes the United States.

Uber is leaning on a mix of logistics and technological know-how to assure when rides do ramp up that drivers are properly shielded, Khosrowshahi mentioned during Thursday’s earnings connect with.

“We are delivery millions of PPE and masks, cleaning materials and so forth., to our drivers to make positive that 1st drive, and the next, and the continuing drives, that our riders are safe and sound and they truly feel safe and sound,” he mentioned.

Some gig employees, which includes those people who do the job for Shipt, Uber, Lyft and Instacart, have complained that they are having difficulties to get masks, gloves and other personal protecting tools. Supply chains, which are stretched as hospitals and health care amenities as perfectly as companies gearing up to deliver employees again to the office environment, compete for this tools.

On the technological know-how entrance, Khosrowshahi honed in on its current merchandise.

“We are on the lookout at technologies these as, for example, our selfie technological know-how where by we make positive that the driver who signed up is the genuine driver who is driving,” Khosrowshahi mentioned. “We can use that technological know-how, for example perhaps, to make positive that the driver is putting on a mask where by suitable.”

Khosrowshahi didn’t supply further details of when the mask need would begin, and when the selfie technological know-how could be utilized for mask verification.

The driver selfie technological know-how, formally recognized as Real-Time ID Examine, is a safety function that makes use of Microsoft Cognitive Companies. Real-Time ID Examine prompts drivers periodically to share a selfie before getting permitted to acknowledge fares. The account is quickly locked if the selfie does not match the photo that Uber has on file. The intention of the technological know-how is to prevent fraud and protect riders and drivers.

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