Uber has officially acquired Segments.ai, a Belgian AI startup renowned for its multi-sensor data labeling technology. It signals Uber’s understanding that the future of mobility depends heavily on mastering AI data infrastructure, not just rideshare operations.
Segments.ai, a Y Combinator-backed startup founded in 2020 by Otto Debals and Bert De Brabandere, has already become a leader in multi-sensor data labeling, specializing in training data for self-driving cars, drones, trucks, and robotics.
Segments.ai’s expertise in LiDAR and sensor data annotation is precisely what Uber needs to accelerate its autonomous vehicle and robotics innovation. This move shows Uber’s intent to transition from a consumer service provider to an AI technology company that powers the next wave of autonomy through data intelligence.
“Our mission has always been to solve the toughest data labeling challenges, enabling machines to learn from complex sensor data with greater accuracy and speed. Joining Uber allows us to scale this mission globally and push the frontiers of AI-powered autonomy,” said Bert.
Their cloud platform tackles one of the toughest challenges in AI development: accurately labeling huge amounts of sensor data so machines can learn and make decisions safely. With automated suggestions and smart learning, Segments.ai makes the process faster and less tedious, saving time and effort while improving the reliability of AI models.
Data labeling is one of the biggest challenges in building reliable AI, especially for self-driving cars and other autonomous tech. While people often focus on fancy models or powerful computers, none of that matters without high-quality labeled data to train the AI. Segments.ai’s platform uses automation and smart tools to make labeling faster and less work-intensive, which gives Uber an important edge in this critical but often overlooked part of AI development.
Uber AI Solutions, the rideshare platform’s AI division, has long focused on building advanced LiDAR and multi-sensor data annotation capabilities critical for the next generation of autonomous vehicles and safety systems. The acquisition of Segments.ai not only brings in their experienced team and advanced annotation tools but also expands Uber’s reach beyond its own rideshare network to a broader range of global AI customers.
Segments.ai’s expertise, proven across demanding applications from autonomous tractors to delivery drones, strengthens Uber’s infrastructure and instantly broadens its client base. This helps the company compete with established AI labeling firms like Meta-backed Scale AI.
This move is about a lot more than just technology. It highlights a trend where companies traditionally known for consumer services are rapidly building deep AI capabilities to compete in the enterprise AI space, traditionally dominated by specialized firms. Uber’s success in pitching its AI labeling services at global tech events, expanding its client roster to include innovators like Aurora Innovation and Niantic, demonstrates how the company is redefining AI as an on-demand, outsourced utility that businesses can tap into.
The company also benefits by positioning itself as an indispensable AI infrastructure provider, much like how Amazon expanded from online retail to dominate cloud computing with AWS.
This acquisition has a big impact on Uber’s workforce. Bringing the Segments.ai team into Uber’s Core Services unit will speed up innovation, but it also ramps up the fight for top AI talent. How well Uber supports and grows this team will be crucial for maintaining its lead, especially as competitors pour more resources into AI tooling.
