Uber invents system that knows if you’re DRUNK – and could refuse to pick you up

The ride-sharing taxi service has filed for a patent that lets the Uber app detect a user's "state".

It doesn't specifically focus on drunk passengers, but does reference "tired" users who "might have difficulty locating the provider's vehicle".

It works by using artificial intelligence to detect if a passenger is using the app in a particularly unusual way.

The usage is compared to a standard Uber session to decide if the passenger isn't feeling quite right – including after a few too many pints, perhaps.

The app would check for a range of factors (like phone angle and typing speed) to work out if you're wasted
Uber's sci-fi system will consider:

How accurately you type in your information
How quickly you type in your information
The angle at which you hold your device
The speed you're walking at
Your location
The time of day
The day of the week
It's obviously not possible to confirm with 100% confidence that someone is drunk from that information.

But the algorithms could work out if it's at all likely that someone is drunk – and then warn the driver.

According to the patent, the Uber app would let the driver know the passenger is potentially in an unusual state.

It would then match the passenger with a driver that has experience with (or is willing to keep) dealing with drunkards.

This could trigger the pick-up or drop-off location to be moved to somewhere easily accessible, with good lighting.

It could also block the passenger from joining a car-pool, or even deny the passenger a ride completely.

Making drivers more aware of who they're picking up in advance could be a good way to improve the safety and efficiency of journeys.

But denying rides to passengers due to drunkenness could be a seriously bad idea.

It could lead to people being unable to get home, or to them taking a risk and driving home drunk – potentially causing an accident.

In any case, it's important to note that this Uber feature is only a patent (that hasn't even been granted yet).

That means it's little more than an idea that Uber may never choose to roll out to the public.

Do you think Uber's latest idea is a good or bad idea? Let me know in the comments