Mystery Uber Cars in Pittsburgh Aren't Self-Driving — Yet

Mysterious Uber cars are zipping around Pittsburgh, and witnesses aren't quite sure what to make of them.
According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, Uber is currently testing out several vehicles in the city. The cars are easy enough to pick out by the large gray contraption on top and the words "Uber Advanced Technologies Center" on the sides.
The Pittsburgh Business Times originally published a purported image of one of Uber's self-driving vehicles. But Uber claims otherwise. An Uber spokeperson told Mashable they were not self-driving cars. Rather, the car was part of Uber's early research efforts regarding mapping, safety, and autonomy systems. In developing self-driving Uber cars, the company is aiming to be less reliant on human drivers, who pocket a major chunk of each fare. That would be an ironic turn of events, given that the company has long billed itself as a way for ex-cabbies and citizen drivers to make a living.