Users don't choose the driver, though. In these services the only way to do that would be to cancel the ride and ask for a new one immediately. Users who want to discriminate against their drivers have enough information already — name and photo — to do that. Not to mention that Lyft can detect the behavior easily and take corrective measures if necessary, such as making it clear that they know users are doing that. But I doubt that'll happen.

Its supposed to be all about getting a driver with topics of conversation in common. They're adding profiles for drivers, that's clear in the article. What use adding them if you can't see them? Of course the customer can see them. And choose between them. Did I read the same article?

Most interests are pretty simple keywords so it'd certainly be possible to do algorithmic matching on the backend. But the article doesn't actually say they'll use profiles to choose drivers. More likely they'll continue sending you the closest available driver (at least at first), and if their profile indicates a shared interest, great, now you have something to talk about.

They see them after they have already been assigned a driver, just like it is now, except now you only see their name and photo. Have you ever used Lyft or Uber?

The point is that if there are things the driver and passenger have to talk about, they will more easily come to light if there is a driver profile available.

That's not how Lyft works. You hail a Lyft in the app and you get whatever driver shows up.

According to the article, they'll be providing profiles for drivers. What point in that, except to browse them? Its going to change soon, according to the author.

You read the profile of your driver while they're on their way so you have something to talk about during your ride.

I feel really reassured when the Lyft driver who picks me up is a woman. When your service is set up in a way that makes women feel comfortable picking up total strangers and driving them around the city, you know you're doing something right.

You already see your driver's photo when you request a ride, so people who don't want women drivers already have that opportunity to cancel.

Or did you just assume that this was a way for you as the rider to choose a driver?