Archive
2025
38 articles from this year.
Sonder's collapse shows why platform apartments can't escape their landlord problem
My Sonder stay was good. Its fixed leases, operating costs, and failed Marriott deal were harder to fix than the guest experience.
Sweetgreen's Q3 Miss Shows Fast-Casual Isn't Affordable Anymore
Sweetgreen’s sales decline and wider loss exposed the pressure on a restaurant model built around frequent spending by younger customers.
Tesla started Cybercab production; the ride business is still the test
Tesla's April 2026 Cybercab production target became an early production milestone. Public fleet deployment and operating cost remain separate, unproven steps.
DoorDash's Q3 profit was real. Its new spending still needs a scorecard.
DoorDash earned $244 million in Q3 2025 and planned a large increase in 2026 investment. The global technology stack is the test.
Lyft Missed Earnings by 60% and the Stock Went Up
Lyft missed Q3 EPS by 60% but the stock jumped 7%. Wall Street cared about one thing: $1.03 billion in free cash flow for the first time ever. That's the metric that actually matters.
Q3 2025 Gig Earnings: The Orders Were Easy. The Costs Weren't.
Uber, DoorDash, and Lyft all grew in Q3 2025. The useful question is what each had to spend to keep growing, and which costs actually showed up in the filings.
Tesla Shareholders Voted Yes to Musk's $1 Trillion. He's Not Getting $1 Trillion.
The shareholder vote passed. But the structure means Musk only gets paid if Tesla hits aggressive growth targets. The real story is what it says about retail versus institutional power.
Sonos Says They Fixed Their Software. They Haven't.
Sonos reported strong Q4 2025 results and claims they've restored software quality after the May 2024 disaster. But their app is still glitchy, and they're about to make it worse by adding AI features.
Waymo's 2025 expansion promises met three different launch tests
Waymo named Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Diego in 2025. By September 2026, public rides had begun in two; Detroit still needed a public launch.
Zoox's Hayward factory has capacity; its fleet still needs a ramp
Zoox designed its Hayward line for eventual volume, but factory capacity is not output. The harder measure is how many vehicles enter reliable public service.
Kroger wants the grocery sale, wherever the order starts
Kroger put its full assortment on DoorDash and planned an Uber Eats expansion. The hard question is who owns the repeat shopper.
OpenAI's new structure gives the nonprofit control. What will it use it for?
OpenAI's 2025 recapitalization clarified ownership and control, but it was not an IPO announcement. The governance decisions are the real test.
Uber’s $4,000 EV grant has to work for the driver
Uber’s EV grant can reduce the cost of switching cars. The driver still has to make the charging, mileage, and loan math work.
Starlink launched 10,000 satellites. The useful number is how many stay working.
Starlink’s launch milestone shows execution at scale. Satellites that fail or need replacement make fleet upkeep the more useful test.
Tesla’s cheaper Model 3 and Y are a trim decision, not a new car
Tesla lowered the entry price with Standard trims. The buyer’s question is whether the missing features are worth the savings.
Banks finally getting serious about crypto
Trump's return flipped the regulatory landscape. Banks can now offer crypto without jumping through hoops, and Morgan Stanley and Citigroup are leading the charge.
Uber's AI microtasks need to pay for the interruption
Uber piloted digital tasks for drivers in 2025. The useful test is net pay per minute of attention, including task switching and quality checks.
DoorDash and Waymo put driverless delivery to a Phoenix test
DoorDash announced a Phoenix Waymo delivery test in October 2025. Customer deliveries began in December, starting with eligible DashMart orders.
Lyft bought a chauffeur business. Now it has to keep the clients.
Lyft’s TBR acquisition adds global corporate transport. The test is repeat bookings and service quality, not a promised robotaxi split.
California SB 371 cuts one rideshare insurance requirement
SB 371 lowers uninsured-motorist coverage for California rideshare passengers. The $1 million primary liability requirement remains, and fare savings are unproven.
The returning Bolt’s price is real. Its volume is still a question.
GM announced a sub-$30,000 Bolt with faster charging. Its limited run makes production volume the part to watch.
Lyft reserves Tensor Robocars, with a 2027 launch goal
Lyft's Tensor plan combines a potential owned fleet with privately owned AVs on its network. Reservations and a target launch are not operating rides.
Rivian's voice assistant needs to operate the car, not narrate it
A 2025 leak suggested Rivian would use Gemini. The useful test is whether its assistant can handle real vehicle tasks reliably.
DoorDash adds Serve's sidewalk robots in Los Angeles
DoorDash's Serve partnership adds a delivery option for eligible Los Angeles orders. Serve's network history does not establish the economics of DoorDash orders.
California rideshare drivers can bargain as contractors under AB 1340
AB 1340 created a bargaining path for California rideshare drivers. PERB certified a statewide representative in September 2026; a first contract remains the test.
Discord customer service data breach leaks user info and scanned photo IDs
A breach at a Discord support provider exposed customer information and some scanned IDs, showing how vendor access extends a platform’s risk.
The Model Y Performance sells speed. I would check the daily ride.
Tesla’s refreshed Model Y Performance has strong published acceleration and range. The meaningful upgrade depends on ride and handling.
DoorDash's Dot robot still has to finish the handoff
Dot entered early access in Arizona in 2025. Its size and speed are less useful than completed orders, handoffs, and intervention cost.
Waymo rides are live in Nashville; Lyft runs the fleet before the app
Waymo opened driverless rides in Nashville in 2026 with Lyft's Flexdrive as fleet partner. The Waymo app launched first; Lyft app access remains a separate milestone.
Lyft's Atlanta AV launch still had a person at the wheel
Lyft and May Mobility began Atlanta pilot rides in 2025 with onboard standby operators. That is a useful service test, not driverless scale.
Zoox opens its purpose-built robotaxi to Las Vegas riders
Zoox's Las Vegas opening put its custom vehicle into public service. The launch proves a ride can work in a limited area; fleet economics remain undisclosed.
Uber joined the S&P 100. The index cannot run a fleet.
Uber's S&P 100 inclusion marked its scale in 2025. It did not prove lower capital costs or that its robotaxi partnerships would work.
Grubhub agrees to pay restaurants $7 million in false advertising case
Grubhub agreed to pay $7.1 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of falsely claiming partnerships with thousands of restaurants
Tesla’s Bay Area rides still had a driver at the wheel
Tesla offered paid Bay Area rides with a safety driver. That is a service launch, but it is not driverless operation.
Uber's Lucid–Nuro robotaxi deal is a fleet commitment with conditions
Uber committed to a Lucid–Nuro robotaxi program, then expanded it. Vehicle orders, test fleets, and commercial rides are different milestones.
Uber adds May Mobility to its robotaxi supply network
Uber's May Mobility deal promises a path to scaled robotaxi supply, but Arlington's delayed launch shows the distance between a partnership and a working fleet.
DoorDash joined the S&P 500. Delivery margins still matter more.
DoorDash entered the S&P 500 in March 2025. Index inclusion confirms scale; it does not prove future delivery margins.
Wonder bought Grubhub for distribution. Integration is the bill.
Wonder acquired Grubhub at a $650 million enterprise value. Making a larger ordering network useful is the harder part.