Uber CEO plays it safe in risk-loving Silicon Valley

SAN FRANCISCO - For nearly a year, Uber and Google parent Alphabet clashed over settling a lawsuit Alphabet filed against the ride-sharing company, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Uber chose to gamble for a victory in court rather than compromise, a choice that led to a high-stakes public trial last week. Negotiations went right up to to the trial itself, when as recently as last week, Uber's board had rejected a settlement offer. Yet on Friday, just as journalists were settling into the packed courtroom after days of bruising testimony, Uber announced it was settling the case. The agreement gave Alphabet's self-driving car business Waymo a stake worth $244 million in the world's most valuable privately-held startup - and the right to vet Uber's self-driving technology.