Alphabet executive steps down from Uber board as firms prep driverless cars
Alphabet executive David Drummond, leads a number of Google investment arms including GV, recently stepped down from Uber's board as the two companies work to bring their respective self-driving car projects to market.
As confirmed to The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Uber said Drummond departed several weeks ago amid concerns over conflicts of interest. Drummond took a position on Uber's board after GV, formerly Google Ventures, invested $250 million in the ride-hailing firm in 2013.
"I recently stepped down from Uber's board given the overlap between the two companies," Drummond told the publication. "GV remains an enthusiastic investor and Google will continue to partner with Uber."
Earlier today, The Information reported Drummond was shut out from board meetings and denied access to sensitive information regarding future initiatives. Board "observer" and GV chief David Krane was also blocked from attending those same meetings, the report said.
Uber and Alphabet are developing driverless cars that could make their way to market in the near future. Uber, for example, is already testing a self-driving hybrid Ford Fusion on the streets of Pittsburgh, and earlier this month acquired self-driving truck firm Ottomotto to bolster its autonomous vehicle technology portfolio. Alphabet is also said to be mulling an entry into automated ride-hailing, according to the WSJ report.
Drummond's departure recalls a move former Google CEO Eric Schmidt made in leaving Apple's board of directors in 2009. Schmidt had served on Apple's board from 2006, but Google's development of a new mobile operating system -- later revealed as Android -- presented a major conflict of interest. It was later learned that late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs felt betrayed by Google's move into iPhone territory.
As tensions rise between Uber and its tech giant investor, Apple is said to be preparing its own self-driving electric car platform in "Project Titan." Most recently, the initiative is said to have undergone a shake-up that puts former product executive Bob Mansfield at the helm in place of Steve Zadesky.
In addition to shadowy skunkworks, Apple more directly impacted Uber's operations with a recent $1 billion investment in Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing in May. According to some reports, Apple's backing was a deciding factor in Uber's decision to abandon its bid for China, a plan realized when Didi purchased Uber China for $1 billion earlier this month.
As confirmed to The Wall Street Journal on Monday, Uber said Drummond departed several weeks ago amid concerns over conflicts of interest. Drummond took a position on Uber's board after GV, formerly Google Ventures, invested $250 million in the ride-hailing firm in 2013.
"I recently stepped down from Uber's board given the overlap between the two companies," Drummond told the publication. "GV remains an enthusiastic investor and Google will continue to partner with Uber."
Earlier today, The Information reported Drummond was shut out from board meetings and denied access to sensitive information regarding future initiatives. Board "observer" and GV chief David Krane was also blocked from attending those same meetings, the report said.
Uber and Alphabet are developing driverless cars that could make their way to market in the near future. Uber, for example, is already testing a self-driving hybrid Ford Fusion on the streets of Pittsburgh, and earlier this month acquired self-driving truck firm Ottomotto to bolster its autonomous vehicle technology portfolio. Alphabet is also said to be mulling an entry into automated ride-hailing, according to the WSJ report.
Drummond's departure recalls a move former Google CEO Eric Schmidt made in leaving Apple's board of directors in 2009. Schmidt had served on Apple's board from 2006, but Google's development of a new mobile operating system -- later revealed as Android -- presented a major conflict of interest. It was later learned that late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs felt betrayed by Google's move into iPhone territory.
As tensions rise between Uber and its tech giant investor, Apple is said to be preparing its own self-driving electric car platform in "Project Titan." Most recently, the initiative is said to have undergone a shake-up that puts former product executive Bob Mansfield at the helm in place of Steve Zadesky.
In addition to shadowy skunkworks, Apple more directly impacted Uber's operations with a recent $1 billion investment in Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing in May. According to some reports, Apple's backing was a deciding factor in Uber's decision to abandon its bid for China, a plan realized when Didi purchased Uber China for $1 billion earlier this month.
Comments
...and this won't be the last time.
The self driving car market is now flooded with competitors. And Google expects to be able to make a profit.
It won't happen.
Too bad Apple didn't can Schmidt earlier.
To to their credit, Google was the first to build an excellent search engine, profiting from it by selling ads. But the company has failed miserably in everything else they have done.
Their ad revenue is being usurped by Facebook and now, even Uber won't let them be a part of the board.
I won't be sad to see Google slide into oblivion. I use none of their products. Not even search these days.
Even more laughable is the claim that "search" is the only success that Google produced
Here's a little history lesson for you:
Vogelstein relays a quote from Google engineer Chris DeSalvo, who said, "As a consumer, I was blown away. I wanted one immediately. But as a Google engineer, I thought, 'We're going to have to start over.'"
That's what a Google Engineer said when he saw the iPhone for the first time. Yes, Google had written Android first, but when they saw the iPhone they realised what they'd written would be as popular as a turd in a swimming pool.
They were facing a market disaster so quickly had to cobble together a new Android, which led to the shortcuts that have dogged them to this day (in case you wondered why they can't outperform an iPhone in real world tasks with twice as many cores).
Here, educate yourself.
https://www.engadget.com/2013/12/19/when-google-engineers-first-learned-about-the-iphone-what-we-h/
- who is "they"? Which operating system did "they" junk?
- Car first integrates with maps (with all relevant destination and en-route information - you know, the application that's luckily unlike Apple maps)