In a striking reflection of modern travel habits, Uber has disclosed a whimsical assortment of items left behind in its robotaxis over the past year. Among the curious finds are beloved Squishmallows, a set of dentures, and a cheeky tote bag emblazoned with the phrase ‘I Heart Hot Dads.’ This peculiar collection further underscores the human element still prevalent in an increasingly automated world.
For over a decade, Uber's annual Lost & Found Index has provided insights into the eccentricities of its riders—and this year's report marks a new chapter as robotaxis become part of everyday life. With the robotaxi service gaining momentum, thousands of items—albeit not yet millions—have been forgotten in these autonomous vehicles.
Typical remainders from passengers include smartphones, wallets, and passports; however, some items venture into the realm of the bizarre, including live fish and a single Louboutin shoe. The integration of robotaxis into Uber's existing infrastructure emphasizes both the challenges and opportunities presented by autonomous transportation.
Since the launch of “Waymo on Uber” in March 2025 in Austin and its subsequent expansion to Atlanta, the company has embraced partnerships with various autonomous vehicle (AV) developers, including Motional in Las Vegas and Avride in Dallas—though these still retain human safety operators. The rapid uptake of robotaxi use indicates a significant rise in demand, evidenced by the sheer volume of items reported lost.
Uber has optimized its approach to recovering lost items, mirroring the procedures established for its traditional ride-hailing services. Riders can easily retrieve belongings by accessing the app, selecting the relevant trip, and contacting customer support directly. Upon recovering their lost items, they have the option of either utilizing an Uber Courier for same-day delivery for a nominal fee or picking up their items from designated AV depots.
Amy Satrom, Uber's global head of autonomous support, remarked, “With tens of millions of lost items reported on Uber each year, we’ve spent the last decade building systems that help riders quickly and seamlessly reunite with their belongings. As autonomous rides continue to scale on Uber, we’re bringing that same expertise to AVs—combining our fleet operations, support teams, and hybrid network to make retrieving lost items simple, even without a driver present.”
The company’s expansion plans signal a robust commitment to the future of autonomous transportation. With intentions to roll out robotaxi services to as many as 15 cities globally by year-end, Uber aims to establish itself as the leading facilitator of AV rides by 2029.
As Uber further integrates robotaxis into its framework, the company's evolving Lost & Found Index not only offers a glimpse into society's quirks but also underscores an emerging aspect of the robotaxi paradigm—human oversight and connection remain essential, even in the age of automation.
Source: TechCrunch
Source: TechCrunch
