This is the Guardian.

Today, part one of the Uber Files, the inside view of how a ride hailing company took over the world.

The first time I've ever seen a ride, I've never seen a ride in a car.

Push a button, get a ride.

For millions of us, it's become routine.

And not just for getting around, for ordering food, groceries, whatever.

I barely remember what we did before, but I do remember my first Uber ride.

The receipts in my emails, along with every ride I've ever taken.

November 9th, 2014, nearly 1am in the middle of Sydney, Australia.

As usual, no taxis around.

And my friends and I thought, why not try this app everyone's talking about?

The first weird thing was, it was just some guy's car, not a taxi.

And I remember the feeling of uncertainty we all had when it pulled up.

I'm not sure that first time any of us would have gotten in alone.

Anyway, the driver, 10V according to the receipt, was fine, obviously.

We were in the car for 8 minutes and 38 seconds.

Yeah, we probably could have just walked.

And when we got to wherever we were going, we got out of the car, and that was it.

No discussion of the fare, no money exchanged, no hassles with the change.

It cost $9.25, way cheaper than a cab.

And all of us in the car, including the driver, spent the ride talking about Uber.

How cool this was, what a game changer. It felt like the future.

...