Uber engineers built AI clone of CEO to practice presentations before high-stakes meetings

Uber engineers built an AI version of their boss | TechCrunch

Consumers probably think of Uber as a ride-hailing and food delivery company. But in the eyes of CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber is really just a giant code base with engineers that are "literally the builders of the company." In fact, Uber's engineers have gone so far as to replace Khosrowshahi with a chatbot that they'll ask questions to in preparation of meetings with the top brass. That's according to an interview Khosrowshahi gave this week on Steven Barlett's podcast The Diary of a CEO. "One of my team members told me that some teams have built a Dara AI, you know, so that they basically make the presentation to the Dara AI as a prep for making a presentation to me," Khosrowshahi said on the podcast. "Because you can imagine, like, you know, by the time something comes to me, there's been a prep and a meeting of the slide deck has been beautifully honed. So they have Dara AI to tune their prep." Business Insider earlier reported this detail. About 90% of Uber's software engineers are using AI in their work, Khosrowshahi said, while about 30% are "power users" of AI tools, completely rethinking the architecture of the company. "They are manufacturing the bricks that go into the system, and they're architects who are kind of thinking about what the system should look like," he said. Khosrowshahi added: "It really is changing their productivity in a way that I've never, ever seen before."

Dara Khosrowshahi: 90% of Uber engineers now use AI in daily workflows

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described his company as a vast code base where engineers serve as the fundamental builders of the organization. During an interview on Steven Bartlett's podcast, The Diary of a CEO, he revealed that software engineers developed an artificial intelligence chatbot modeled after him to simulate leadership presentations. This internal tool, referred to as "Dara AI," allows teams to practice their pitches before meeting with actual executives. Khosrowshahi learned of the project from a team member, noting that the simulation helps staff refine slide decks and presentation strategies. Business Insider had previously reported on the existence of this AI preparation tool. According to Khosrowshahi, approximately 90% of Uber's software engineers currently utilize AI tools in their daily workflows. Within this group, about 30% are classified as "power users" who leverage the technology to completely rethink the company's underlying architecture. These engineers act as both manufacturers of system components and architects designing the overall structure of the platform. Khosrowshahi emphasized that the integration of AI has fundamentally altered productivity levels, stating that the shift represents a rate of change he has never witnessed before.

Uber CEO reveals teams use AI clone of him to prep high-stakes presentations

Uber CEO says AI boosts productivity but still cannot fully replace human judgement and decision-making. Many experts believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace blue-collar jobs. However, in a recent interview, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated that the company's employees are using artificial intelligence to prepare for meetings with him, developing an internal AI tool to simulate his feedback style. Speaking on Steven Bartlett's show The Diary of a CEO, Khosrowshahi stated that certain teams have created what they call Dara AI. The tool serves as a rehearsal mechanism, allowing employees to run through presentations and refine their arguments before confronting the actual CEO. Teams can prepare for objections and questions by adjusting slides and strengthening proposals ahead of time. Also read: Google Pixel 9a price drops by over Rs 13,100 on this platform It must be noted that it is still unclear how widely the company uses the AI clone within its surroundings. The reports suggest that the development is consistent with broader workplace trends of using AI to navigate high-stakes professional scenarios. Khosrowshahi also suggested that while AI can analyse the big datasets better, it still struggles with the real-time judgements and nuanced decision making, which he believes are still necessary in execution roles. However, he acknowledged that if AI systems evolve to continuously learn and adapt instantly, even top leadership positions may be at risk. Also read: From MoodXVIP to Jugunu, Indian govt blocks 5 OTT platforms: Here's why The report mentioned that Uber already uses AI to power its ride-hailing algorithms as well as newer initiatives like AI-focused services. According to Khosrowshahi, some of Uber's engineers actively use AI tools to improve productivity. He noted that increased efficiency could either accelerate hiring to expand innovation or reduce the need for additional headcount, depending on strategic priorities. While the current scenario appears to be harmless, it can be interpreted as an indication that AI will change the way corporations operate. Companies are already rushing towards automation to increase productivity, raising concerns that many people will lose their jobs.