How to calculate whether automating a workflow is worth the effort

Despite immense industry excitement around autonomous software designed to complete real-world tasks, consumers are hardly using these systems for daily routines. TechCrunch reported that during Uber's third-quarter earnings call, company executive Balaji Krishnamurthy revealed that only four rides were booked using an AI agent during the entire week of Halloween. That minimal volume occurred even as the platform completed roughly 320 million total trips and food orders during that same seven-day window.

Food delivery services reflect the exact same trend. Uber noted that just 500 Uber Eats orders came through AI assistants during that busy week, while competing platform DoorDash recently shared similar earnings data showing only a few hundred total AI-initiated orders. For everyday users, opening a standard phone application to request a ride takes less than a minute. Handing those basic duties over to a digital helper often introduces unnecessary friction and oversight rather than saving actual effort.

Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi acknowledged during the call that consumer adoption remains extremely limited so far, though he expressed hope that usage will eventually grow as more technology platforms integrate with their network. Major tech companies continue to launch tools designed to make online purchases on behalf of users, but these early metrics highlight a massive gap between corporate enthusiasm and practical everyday utility.

This sluggish adoption raises a broader question about whether automated agents will ever replace direct app interfaces for simple tasks, or if their true value will stay restricted to complex, multi-step workflows like booking detailed travel itineraries. Until people can trust these automated assistants to manage personal preferences and payments without constant supervision, the sheer simplicity of traditional mobile apps will likely keep consumer AI agents on the sidelines.