Squishmallows, dentures, and an ‘I Heart Hot Dads’ bag: Uber has found thousands of items left in robotaxis

Uber’s annual Lost & Found Index says passengers left thousands of items in robotaxis on its network over the past year, including phones, wallets, dentures, and an “I Heart Hot Dads” bag. The company is using the quirky report to spotlight its expanding robotaxi operations with partners including Waymo, Motional, and Avride.

The report turns a novelty list into a signal that Uber’s autonomous ride-hailing volume is becoming meaningful, especially after Waymo service launches in Austin and Atlanta. Lost-item recovery also shows how mundane operational details could become a competitive advantage as AV services scale beyond pilots.

Even in a future of robot taxis, someone still has to return the things passengers leave behind.