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

Published

5 months ago

June 3, 2026

For the past 10 years, Uber’s annual Lost & Found Index has provided a rather quirky anthropological snapshot of its riders — and even a few insights into society. The annual catalogue of millions of forgotten items ranges from mundane modern-day tools such as smartphones and laptops, to more eyebrow-raising objects like live fish, an ankle monitor, a toboggan, a package of live butterflies, and a single Louboutin shoe.

This year, Uber is using the report to highlight the same old problem of lost items with a new twist: robotaxis. Thousands of items (it’s a bit too new for millions) were left behind in robotaxis on Uber’s ride-hailing network in the past year, the company said Tuesday. There were the usual suspects of phones, keys, wallets, passports, and headphones, along with a few items that strayed into the who-is-this-rider category: a set of dentures, an “I Heart Hot Dads” bag, and a blue hat that reads “Emotional Support Human.”

Beyond this entertaining list lies a business opportunity, if a minor one. Even in a future of robot taxis, someone still has to return the things passengers leave behind.

Uber has spent the past several years locking up dozens of partnerships with autonomous vehicle (AV) technology companies. But it really wasn’t until March 2025, when the “Waymo on Uber” robotaxi service launched in Austin, that the commercial wheels on its AV business started turning. Since then, Uber and Waymo have also started a robotaxi service in Atlanta. Uber has added other AV companies to its app in the past year, including Motional in Las Vegas and Avride in Dallas, although these still have human safety operators behind the wheel.

That Uber has already logged thousands of lost items in just 12 months gives some sense of just how many robotaxi rides have been completed on its app. The underlying message here is that Uber’s existing network is already set up to reunite riders with their lost items, including a 15-pound yo-yo, one large black marble duck, a Squishmallow, and a Charli XCX poster.

When an Uber rider forgets belongings in a robotaxi, the process for recovering them is similar to any other Uber ride: open the app, click the activity tab, select the trip during which the item was lost, and contact customer support. Riders are then able to message, chat, or call a support agent. If the item is located, they have two options: pay $15 for an Uber Courier driver to provide same-day local delivery, or pick up the belonging in person from an AV depot, where the vehicles are stored and serviced.

Uber Courier is a rebrand of Uber Connect, which launched in 2020 and allowed users to send packages and personal items between local addresses. But Uber says there is more to its robotaxi support network than repurposing existing services.

“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,” Amy Satrom, global head of autonomous support at Uber, said in a statement. “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 getting a lost item back simple, even when there’s no driver behind the wheel.”

In February, the company announced Uber Autonomous Solutions, a new business division that conveys its bigger ambitions around driverless tech. The division provides companies with a suite of services that handle all the tasks associated with operating a robotaxi, self-driving truck, or sidewalk delivery robot business, including software and support services.

And Uber clearly means to make AVs a major revenue driver. The company plans to offer robotaxi rides through its app in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of the year and has said it intends to be the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world by 2029.

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Related Topics:bag Dads dentures heart hot items left robotaxis Squishmallows thousands Uber

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Details Emerge as Middle Belt Leaders Visit Tinubu at Aso Rock

Published

2 hours ago

November 6, 2026

PlateauReports

InCollage 20261106 060506456 1200x675.jpg

Details have emerged following the meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and prominent Middle Belt leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

The leaders, who visited the President at the State House, reaffirmed their support for his administration and discussed issues affecting the Middle Belt region, particularly insecurity, national development, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Among those present at the meeting were the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi; and Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas.

Others included businessman Thomas Etuh and Dr Poju Bitrus.

During the meeting, the Middle Belt leaders expressed support for Tinubu’s administration, particularly its efforts to address insecurity and promote development across the country.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, acknowledged improvements in the security situation, while emphasising the need for sustained efforts to tackle the challenges facing communities in the region.

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang also highlighted efforts to rebuild trust among communities and strengthen peaceful coexistence between people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The meeting comes amid persistent security concerns in parts of the Middle Belt, particularly Plateau, Benue and other states that have witnessed recurring attacks, communal violence and displacement of residents.

The leaders’ visit also comes at a politically significant time, with political parties and their supporters beginning to intensify activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting is also taking place against the backdrop of President Tinubu’s planned visits to Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, where he is expected to commission projects and participate in political rallies.

As earlier reported by POLITICS NIGERIA, the Presidency announced that Tinubu would depart Abuja on Friday, November 6, for a two-state visit, beginning with Akwa Ibom before proceeding to Rivers State on Saturday.

President Bola Tinubu met with middle belt leaders on Thursday

According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu will arrive in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to commission several projects completed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration.

The projects include the new International Terminal Building, International Airport Hospital and Ibom Aviation Village, all located at the Victor Attah International Airport.

Others are the Airport-Okopedi Road, which connects communities in Nsit Atai and Okobo Local Government Areas, and Ring Road 3, linking Idoro Road to Ikot Ekpene Road through Uyo and Ibiono Ibom.

The President is also expected to commission the AKWA-GIS Office Complex, the Command and Control Centre and the ARISE Palm Resort before attending a political rally in the state.

Governor Eno has declared Friday a work-free day to enable residents and workers to participate in activities marking the President’s visit.

Tinubu is expected to proceed to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday to participate in an All Progressives Congress (APC) political rally.

The rally will be his third since he officially flagged off his re-election campaign in Kaduna State last month.

The planned visits come barely two days after the President returned to Abuja from Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah.

Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 8:53 p.m. on Wednesday and was received by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Defence, the Inspector-General of Police and other government officials.

During his stay in Saudi Arabia, the President was granted access to the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, where he offered prayers for Nigeria and its citizens.

News

Kaduna PDP guber candidate, Bawa suspends activities over death of party members

Published

2 hours ago

November 6, 2026

PlateauReports

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2027 election in Kaduna State, Usman Shehu Bawa, ABG, has suspended all his campaign activities following the death of three party members in a fatal motor accident.

The victims died on their way home after attending a meeting in Kaduna.

A statement issued by his spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, said the gubernatorial candidate expressed deep sorrow over the death of the party members.

He explained that the inauguration of his campaign council, and other related activities planned for Saturday have been suspended till further notice.

He expressed regret for the inconvenience the suspension may have caused, particularly to individuals invited for the occasion.

The three deceased members are all from Jema’a Local Government Area of the state and are identified as Caleb Ishaya Alot – Secretary of PDP, Jema'a LGA, Mercy Achi – Women leader, Wise Ward and Charity Bahago – member of the PDP, Wise Ward.

According to Shehu ABG, "The incident is a painful loss to the bereaved families and the entire PDP family in the state."

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate families and the people of Jema’a Local Government Area and members of the party in the state over the painful loss.

He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries in the accident.

Kaduna PDP guber candidate, Bawa suspends activities over death of party members