[wskinner]

Amazon’s capex is not funded by venture capital. It is funded by people buying things from Amazon or services from AWS.

Uber hasn’t raised from VCs in years, and their business is far bigger than it was back when they were losing money.

The idea that SF residents choose to use Uber rather than BART because Uber is cheaper is simply wrong - Uber is much more expensive than BART, and with some notable exceptions for shared rides, that was true during the VC funded growth period as well.

[itake]

It doesn't matter the source of the capital. VCs, public companies, bank loans, public or private investors. it doesn't matter.

The cost of these services is artificially suppressed to drive adoption, at the cost of our environment.

> The idea that SF residents choose to use Uber rather than BART because Uber is cheaper is simply wrong

When I lived in SF. Uber and Lyft cost between free and $5 to go anywhere in the city. Yes, $5 is more than the $2.75. But for price of a cup of coffee more, Uber would pick you up and drop you off exactly where you needed. Taking muni or bart involved walking, waiting, more waiting, and then more walking.

[wskinner]

> Taking muni or bart involved walking, waiting, more waiting, and then more walking

Exactly.

Uber makes a lot of money these days. The price is not suppressed. And yet... it is more popular than ever. Prices were artificially low for awhile in order to bootstrap the market, and that worked, and now that the market has been established, prices are at a level that is sustainable. Your whole premise is wrong.

[itake]

It’s so weird that you’re like agreeing with me but then at the very end you say my promise is wrong. Can you pick a lane?

Currently prices are artificially low for AI in order to boot shop the market. Artificially low prices increase demand which increases environmental impact.

If you rewind the clock to an Uber launched in San Francisco you would see the exact same playbook: artificially low prices, bootstrapping the market, increase demand, and increase environmental impact.

Your whole premise keeps flip flopping.