Uber will soon let users book hotels through the app
New partnership with Expedia part of ambition to become ‘all-in-one’ app
The new feature will launch in a couple of weeks in the US before expanding globally
Diego Thomazini/Shutterstock.
Uber has announced the launch of a new feature that will soon allow users to book hotels and plan trips with the help of artificial intelligence through its app.
The addition, which comes via a partnership with the travel website Expedia, aims to make Uber an ‘all-in-one’ app. The integration will provide access to more than 700,000 accommodation options, with plans to eventually include short-term rentals via Vrbo.
Already, through Uber and Uber Eats, the app has moved beyond a simple ride-booking platform to offering food delivery services by collaborating with restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and, more recently, even retail stores and cosmetics brands.
Now, inspired by Chinese apps such as WeChat or Alipay, Uber aims to transform its platform so that users can complete a wide range of tasks within a single app. For example, a user could book a ride and schedule a coffee pickup from a shop during the journey.
Additionally, users will be able to organise trips by booking hotels and rides, with an AI assistant helping them plan travel or generate shopping lists and meal plans.
Soon, another feature will add a voice assistant powered by OpenAI models, making interactions more natural and allowing users to book rides through conversation.
“We are no longer just a ride-sharing app, or even a family of apps for transportation and food,” explained CEO Dara Khosrowshahi during a presentation on Wednesday in New York, according to Le Figaro. “Uber is an all-in-one app.”
Other platforms have already adopted similar strategies by expanding beyond their original services. For instance, Airbnb has moved from home rentals into offering experiences and, more recently, services such as haircuts and massages.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has stated ambitions to turn X (formerly Twitter) into an all-in-one platform incorporating social media, payments and banking services.
The new feature will launch in a couple of weeks in the US before expanding globally, although a specific date has not yet been announced.
