Kozminski Techblog

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Customer experience:

Uber has been leveraging behavioural science, backed by insights from across the customer journey, to reduce friction and create a simple, intuitive, fast, and easy customer experience. (Forbes) Uber has used data to improve its in-app help centre for customers and riders, suggest ways to optimise Chat Support, and uncover issues affecting the user experience. (Forbes) The end result has been a consistent improvement in the company’s customer satisfaction across all channels.

AI has improved Uber’s user experience in various ways. AI has improved efficiency, reduced wait times, and provided personalised recommendations, making riding more convenient and pleasurable. Pattern recognition is another tactic used by Uber’s AI. If a consistent route or food order is placed in the app, Uber will pre-emptively send a notification before you even decide to place an order or call a ride (Business Insider). Additionally, AI-powered safety features such as driver background checks and real-time tracking help to ensure the safety of riders.

Revenue:

Uber has been employing AI to optimise its pricing approach, which has resulted in increased revenue. Uber has used machine learning to forecast demand for rides and modify costs accordingly. This has allowed Uber to grow income while simultaneously giving clients with more affordable rides. By increasing efficiency and decreasing costs, AI has enabled Uber to cut its fares and attract more riders. Furthermore, AI-powered personalisation tools are utilised to target advertising to specific riders, potentially increasing revenue from advertising. For the first time in its decade long history, Uber made a profit in 2023. Uber reported a 118% increase to its revenue in the third quarter of 2023 and this earnings increase is comes after a hard implantation of AI in its revenue streams However, in its earnings report AI was only mentioned once. An article from the messenger alluded to this being a result of Uber “downplaying” the impact AI has had on Uber’s success (The Messenger). It is hard to determine the direct impact of AI on Uber’s profitability, though one may infer that there is a direct correlation.

Efficiency:

Uber has been leveraging AI and machine learning to detect and handle user experience incidents, ensuring that their app remains operational. Uber has used machine learning to identify and resolve problems with its payment system. This has helped Uber enhance its efficiency and reduce the number of problems affecting its consumers. AI has also increased Uber’s operational efficiency. With the implementation of AI, there has been a 12.3% increase improvement in demand forecasting, which better determines the price of Uber’s at a given time (Uber).

Another example is AI-powered chatbots, which are used to manage client inquiries, decreasing the strain of human support personnel. AI is also utilised to automate duties such as data analysis and reporting, allowing personnel to focus on more strategic objectives.

Operations:

Other specific cases on the use of AI in Uber are as follows:

• Demand Forecasting: Uber optimises fleet allocation and reduces empty vehicles through demand forecasting using AI algorithms. This increases efficiency and lowers fuel usage, saving the drivers money.

• Route Optimization: AI-powered algorithms optimise routes to reduce travel time and enhance the consumer experience.

• Pricing Optimization: AI algorithms optimise pricing based on real-time demand and supply, ensuring riders pay fair prices and drivers make a respectable profit.

• Fraud Detection: AI detects fraudulent activity on Uber’s platform, protecting riders and drivers from scams.

Sources:

1. https://stratechery.com/company/uber/)
2. https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-filed-patent-to-predict-customer-habits-artificial-intelligence-2023-5)
3. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/19/heres-how-companies-in-the-sharing-economy-can-benefit-from-ai-and-boost-profits-.html)
4. “ https://www.uber.com/us/en/uberai/)
5. World Economic Forum ²:

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Deep AI

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When starting your business or passion project, you may look to crowdfunding for that extra bit of start-up capital to make your goals into realities. Crowdfunding can be a great way to raise money for your business or project, but it’s important to be realistic about your chances of success. According to Kickstarter, only about 65% of campaigns on the platform deliver their product on time. The relatively low success rate is due to a myriad of factors which include but are not limited to the ones given below.

The first one worth discussing is when campaigns set an unrealistic funding goal. It’s important to do your research and set a funding goal that is achievable and realistic for your campaign. If you set your goal too high, you’re likely to fall short and disappoint your backers. If you set your goal to low, then you will be unable to complete your project without asking for more money from your backers or elsewhere.

The next one is not having a clear and compelling value proposition. What makes your product or service unique and worth supporting? This is an important factor in any business offering a service or product. You need to be able to clearly articulate your value proposition to potential backers. With much competition in the marketplace, your product must stand out from the rest to receive backers hard earned money. You are looking for funding from a very large pool of people, which means your value proposition has to appeal to a large group of people. This factor may be the most difficult one to get right, but also proves the most essential as communication is key when it comes to crowdfunding.

Keeping in line with the communication factor, another reason campaigns fails is by failing to build a community around your campaign. Crowdfunding is all about building a community of people who are excited about your project. You need to reach out to potential backers and get them engaged with your campaign. Even when the goal is reached, there needs to be constant engagement after the backer has given their money. An urge to “take the money and run” may arise, though it is essential you act ethically and transparently to build trust with your backers. It is also important to keep backers informed of your progress throughout the campaign. Regular updates will help to build trust and excitement for your project.

The final element to avoid is not delivering on your promises. If you don’t deliver on the promises you made to your backers, you’ll damage your reputation and make it difficult to raise money for future projects. If you are lucky enough to achieve your funding goals, you then must reciprocate the good will and deliver for your backers.

In crowdfunding there are many campaigns that do not reach their goals and therefore do not deliver a product. If you were to go on Kickstarter or GoFundMe, you would find a graveyard of poor ideas destined to fail due to any combination of the aforementioned examples. However, an interesting example of a successful campaign that ended in a failure is the Zano Drone. The Zano Drone was a mini drone that could be controlled by a smartphone. The campaign raised over three-million-dollars on Kickstarter, but the company went bankrupt before delivering the product to backers.

Works Referenced:

www.trendscoutuk.com/blog/why-crowdfunding-campaigns-fail-and-how-to-avoid-them/

www.kickstarter.com/help/handbook/fulfillment

firmbee.com/crowdfunding-failures

www.floship.com/blog/_why-crowdfunding-campaigns-fail/

www.rainfactory.com/blog/4-ways-crowdfunding-campaigns-could-fail/

www.kickstarter.com/projects/torquing/zano-autonomous-intelligent-swarming-nano-drone?result=project. Accessed 17 Dec. 2023

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Introduction
Misinformation is a growing problem on social media platforms, posing a significant threat to public discourse and civic engagement. In an effort to combat this issue, X.com has implemented Birdwatch, a crowdsourcing tool that empowers users to identify and contextualize potentially misleading information on the platform. This article examines X.com’s use of Birdwatch and argues that it represents an effective approach to misinformation combat.
Birdwatch: A Crowdsourced Approach to Misinformation
Birdwatch is a community-driven initiative that allows users to flag and add context to tweets that they believe may be misleading. Birdwatch participants, known as “Birdwatchers,” can provide additional information, identify relevant sources, and add annotations to tweets. These annotations are then displayed alongside the tweet, providing users with additional context to make informed judgments about the information they encounter. The benefit of crowdsourcing fact checking is that there is a wide array of viewpoints instead of central fact checking department. If X.com were to use a central fact checking department, all hired internally by X’s own HR department it could lead to a formation of a partisan department which in turn could turn a blind eye to certain posts which are in favour of their own biases.
The Effectiveness of Birdwatch
According to X “people who see a Birdwatch note are, on average, 20-40% less likely to agree with the substance of a potentially misleading Tweet than someone who sees the Tweet alone.” Here we are relying on X’s honesty on the effectiveness of the platform. However, in my own personal experience when I see a community note on the website I will stop and do further analysis on the post to determine its validity and investigate the deeper context in which the post was made.
Arguments in Favor of Birdwatch
There are several reasons why Birdwatch is an effective approach to misinformation combat. First, crowdsourcing allows for a rapid and scalable response to misinformation. Second, Birdwatchers bring a diversity of perspectives to the task of identifying and contextualizing misleading information. Third, the transparency of the Birdwatch process allows users to see how annotations are generated and to evaluate the credibility of the information provided.
X.com’s use of Birdwatch represents an effective approach to misinformation combat because it leverages the power of crowdsourcing to rapidly and accurately identify and contextualize misleading information. Birdwatch’s transparency allows users to evaluate the credibility of the information provided and contributes to a more informed online discourse. As the threat of misinformation continues to grow, X.com’s use of Birdwatch provides a valuable model for other social media platforms to follow. Furthermore, when Musk bought Twitter his first goal was to cut spending which drastically reduced the number of employees.
Conclusion
X.com’s use of Birdwatch represents an effective and innovative approach to misinformation combat. Crowdsourcing allows for a rapid and scalable response to misinformation, and Birdwatchers bring a diversity of perspectives to the task of identifying and contextualizing misleading information. The transparency of the Birdwatch process also allows users to see how annotations are generated and to evaluate the credibility of the information provided. As the threat of misinformation continues to grow, X.com’s use of Birdwatch provides a valuable model for other social media platforms to follow.
References
• X https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2022/birdwatch-getting-new-onboarding-process-more-visible-notes
• https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.15723
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/09/twitter-birdwatch-factcheck-musk-misinfo/
• https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-embraces-twitters-radical-crowdsourcing-experiment/
• https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/product/2022/birdwatch-getting-new-onboarding-process-more-visible-notes#:~:text=Our%20research%20indicates%20that%20Birdwatch,who%20sees%20the%20Tweet%20alone.
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Digital nomad visas are becoming a significant part of immigration policies worldwide, and Poland has joined the trend by introducing its digital nomad visa program in 2020. This blog post offers a critical analysis of the current state and potential future of digital nomad visas in Poland, examining both the advantages and challenges this trend presents.

Current State of Digital Nomad Visas in Poland

Poland’s digital nomad visa program, launched in 2020, allows remote workers to live and work in the country legally for one year. It offers straightforward requirements, such as proof of remote employment, health insurance, and a clean criminal record. The inclusion of access to public healthcare is a notable benefit for digital nomads.

Advantages

Poland’s growing tech industry, with cities like Warsaw and Krakow as major tech hubs, is a significant attraction for digital nomads. The tech scene fosters networking opportunities and collaboration, making it an ideal environment for remote workers in the tech sector. The government recognizes the economic potential of attracting remote workers, including spending on accommodation, transportation, and leisure activities. This revenue can contribute to the local economy. Poland’s program is in line with a global trend of offering digital nomad visas, reflecting the recognition of remote work’s importance and benefits for both travelers and host countries.

Challenges and Potential Future Developments

As more countries introduce their digital nomad visa programs, Poland faces competition in attracting remote workers. To stay competitive, Poland may need to enhance its offering. While Poland’s program is a step in the right direction, it may need to consider policy enhancements such as longer visa durations, streamlined application processes, and additional support services to retain digital nomads in the long term.

Conclusion

Poland’s digital nomad visa program is a promising development, but it also faces challenges as it competes on a global scale. The advantages, including a thriving tech scene and economic benefits, are clear, but evolving policies and adapting to the changing landscape are crucial. To thrive in this growing market, Poland must stay attuned to the needs and expectations of digital nomads and continuously refine its offerings. As digital nomad visas become a more integral part of immigration policies, the ability to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for remote workers will be a determining factor in Poland’s success in this evolving landscape.

Sources:

“Poland launches a digital nomad visa,” The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/aug/24/poland-launches-digital-nomad-visa-working-remote-workers

“Poland as a Tech Hub: Exploring Opportunities for Digital Nomads,” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/05/20/poland-as-a-tech-hub-exploring-opportunities-for-digital-nomads/?sh=4d13585060a6

“Digital Nomad Visas: A Worldwide Trend,” CNN Travel, https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/digital-nomad-visas-world/index.html

“How COVID-19 changed the digital nomad visa landscape,” The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/how-covid-19-changed-digital-nomad-visa-landscape/

“Digital Nomad Visas and the Future of Work,” Harvard Business Review, https://hbr.org/2021/02/digital-nomad-visas-and-the-future-of-work

Engine Used: Chat-GPT