A couple of twitter users went to social media to post screenshots of the Uber game that popped up on their phones as they were riding an Uber car.
As early as Feb. 27, Uber has been targeting specific passengers to play their game through their Uber app in the search for qualified software engineers to interview for their company. The game is called, 'Code on the Road,' which prompts users with a series of questions that determines if they're qualified for the position. If the user agrees to play the game, three coding questions, each with a time limit of 60 seconds, are given to passengers. If the user passes the test, they are queried about their interest in applying for the company. An email is sent to the Uber user if they agree.
Coders out there are you ready for the @Uber hacker challenge?!? pic.twitter.com/nK38Pft0lx
— Kaitlyn Loh (@kaitlyn_loh) February 27, 2016
Uber gave me a "HACKER CHALLENGE" while in the car today. Apparently "HACKER" means "can implement quicksort". pic.twitter.com/zZVkfkNub4 — John Feminella (@jxxf) March 12, 2016
Uber is now offering coding questions to potential candidates while you're in an uber. How did they know I code? pic.twitter.com/W2zn8bmouy
— Joshua Debner (@jdebner) March 25, 2016
Most of the users who had a chance of playing 'Code on the Road' have programming backgrounds which raise questions regarding user privacy. According to a report from Business Insider, Uber denied that they had used any personal information from riders to find their target market. The company was relying more on what routes passengers were taking coupled with the vicinity of tech companies nearby. Places such as Seattle, Boston, Denver and Austin, Texas, and other areas with tech industries have been targeted. Such steps have proven to be effective as their target audience is being reached.
The report also indicated that Uber has always been "looking for new ways" to search for qualified and interested parties that could help their company solve "interesting problems." The game pops up whenever a rider is in an area where tech industry is centralized. The option to play the game gives users an alternative experience in applying for a career in software programming. One such example is Uber's upcoming hacker challenge. The company had earlier announced that they were looking for hackers to break into their system and successful hacks would be rewarded $10,000. This, in turn, helps their company fine tune weak spots in their system to avoid future glitches. The challenge starts this coming May 1.
