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

Uber's annual Lost & Found Index has become a fascinating glimpse into the lives of its riders over the past decade. Each year, the report catalogs a wide array of forgotten belongings, from everyday gadgets like smartphones and laptops to more unusual items such as live fish, an ankle monitor, and even a single Louboutin shoe. This year, the spotlight is on robotaxis, as thousands of items were reported left behind in these autonomous vehicles. On Tuesday, Uber revealed that the list of forgotten items includes common objects like phones, keys, and wallets, but also features some unexpected finds: a set of dentures, an 'I Heart Hot Dads' bag, and a blue hat emblazoned with the phrase 'Emotional Support Human.' Beyond the amusement of these discoveries lies a significant business opportunity—someone still needs to reunite passengers with their lost belongings in this new realm of transportation. In recent years, Uber has forged numerous partnerships with autonomous vehicle (AV) technology firms, and the launch of the 'Waymo on Uber' robotaxi service in Austin in March 2025 marked the beginning of a new chapter for its AV business. Following that, a similar service was initiated in Atlanta, alongside collaborations with other AV companies like Motional in Las Vegas and Avride in Dallas, where human safety operators remain at the wheel. The sheer volume of lost items recorded in just one year indicates the rapid growth of robotaxi rides on Uber's platform. The company has already developed a streamlined process for riders to recover their forgotten possessions, which includes items as diverse as a 15-pound yo-yo, a large black marble duck, a Squishmallow, and a Charli XCX poster. To retrieve a lost item, riders simply need to access the app, select the relevant trip, and reach out to customer support for assistance. If the item is found, riders can choose between two recovery options: pay $15 for an Uber Courier to deliver it the same day or pick it up at an autonomous vehicle depot where the cars are maintained. Uber Courier, a rebranding of its previous Uber Connect service, was designed to facilitate local item deliveries. However, Uber emphasizes that its support network for robotaxis extends beyond merely adapting existing services. Amy Satrom, Uber's global head of autonomous support, stated, '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.' As the company continues to scale its autonomous rides, it is committed to bringing this expertise to AV operations, ensuring that retrieving lost items remains straightforward, even without a driver. In February, Uber introduced Uber Autonomous Solutions, a new division aimed at enhancing its ambitions in driverless technology. This division offers a comprehensive suite of services for companies managing robotaxi, self-driving truck, or sidewalk delivery robot operations, covering everything from software to support services. Uber is clearly positioning itself to capitalize on the future of AVs, with plans to roll out robotaxi services in up to 15 cities worldwide by the end of the year. The company aims to become the leading facilitator of AV trips globally by 2029.