Many of us are guilty of jumping into an Uber after having one too many drinks.
But that could soon be about to change.
According to a new patent application, Uber is working on a way to let its drivers know exactly how drunk passengers are before they pick them up.
The AI system identifies a user’s level of intoxication based on how they’re holding their phone.
It also looks at how many times they tap on the Uber app, exactly where they tap, their walking speed and how long it takes for them to request a ride.
It then identifies if they’re exhibiting ‘uncharacteristic’ behaviour and gives drivers the option to deny them a ride.
Uber is also exploring the possibility of matching inebriated passengers with drivers who have had relevant training to deal with drunk behaviour.
Uber could be working on an AI system that detects when passengers are drunk. Those who are really inebriated may not even be given the option to take a shared ride, the patent suggests (stock image)
‘The user behaviour may be compared against the user’s prior behaviour to determine differences in the user behaviour for this request and normal behaviour of prior requests’, the patent reads.
‘The system can alter the parameters of a service based on the prediction about the state of the user requesting the service.’
As well as the way a passenger uses their phone, the algorithm will take into account if someone is ordering a ride in the early hours of the morning from an area where there are lots of bars.
Users that are drunk may also be presented with an alternative, easy-to-use version of the app.
The app may change the pick-up or drop-off location to somewhere safer or more accessible.
It could also prevent the passenger from joining shared rides.
However, experts fear it may allow drivers to undertake ‘drunk hunting’.
Professor Andre Spicer, from Cass Business School in London, told the Telegraph: ‘This opens up the opportunity for drivers to identify drunk passengers and potentially take advantage of it.
‘It could lead to the possibility of some drivers avoiding drunk passengers and in the worst cases ‘drunk hunting’.
Many of us are guilty of jumping into an Uber after having one too many drinks. But that could soon be about to change. According to a new patent application, Uber is working on a way to let its drivers know exactly how drunk you are before they pick you up (stock image)
‘It may also make journeys safer for drunk passengers, so if they know who is a risky driver they might prevent that unsafe driver from picking up vulnerable riders.’
‘It could mean that they offer different pricey for drunk passengers, which means Uber could take advantage of a users state to charge them more.’
It is not clear if the firm is working on this technology and MailOnline has contacted the company for comment.
In March the company published other patents suggesting it was working on technology that could keep riders entertained during their trip.
Two patent applications, which have not yet been approved, hint at the concept of self-driving cars equipped with virtual reality technology, Motherboard reported in March.
The applications are both called ‘Virtual Reality Experience For a Vehicle’ and were filed in 2016.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office published them in February.
In March the company published another patent suggesting it was working on technology that could keep riders entertained during their trip. The applications are both called ‘Virtual Reality Experience For a Vehicle’ and were filed in 2016. The above drawing was featured in them
The VR system that Uber is trying to patent creates an environment that is somewhat synced with the self-driving car’s motions, the patent suggests.
The patent applications say that Uber’s VR technology will provide riders with something to do to make their commutes less monotonous.
‘Most people travel the same routes at the same times of day over and over again and are interested in using their travel time for something other than looking at whatever is currently visible out of the vehicle’s windows,’ the applications state.
Motion sickness can be induced by VR technology as a result of a lag occurring between simulated motion and real motion, according to Motherboard.
Uber’s patents said that the company’s VR system will address this issue.
Additionally, the technology could be used to point out useful information to tourists taking Ubers in unfamiliar areas.
It is unclear how riders will access Uber’s VR system – whether or not they will have to don a used headset is unknown.