Uber Drivers Hacking the System to Cause Surge Pricing
Interesting story about Uber drivers who have figured out how to game the company’s algorithms to cause surge pricing:
According to the study. drivers manipulate Uber’s algorithm by logging out of the app at the same time, making it think that there is a shortage of cars.
[…]
The study said drivers have been coordinating forced surge pricing, after interviews with drivers in London and New York, and research on online forums such as Uberpeople.net. In a post on the website for drivers, seen by the researchers, one person said: “Guys, stay logged off until surge. Less supply high demand = surge.”
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Passengers, of course, have long had tricks to avoid surge pricing.
I expect to see more of this sort of thing as algorithms become more prominent in our lives.
Bsof • August 8, 2017 9:46 AM
Maybe managing the whole society with intrinsically imperfect algorithms isn’t such a good idea after all.