"However, they still do not get the kind of data Google can get from their Maps and Waze (It's interesting to note that Lyft and Waze partnered) to enable their AI researchers."
Google is invested in uber, why would they not supply them the data they needed?
Because Google routinely undermines their partners through internal productizing (see e.g. Flintstone/OnHub), and Google has a large self-driving car program. There's a clear path from there to a Google(/Alphabet)-owned ride provider regardless of investment in Uber.
This just isn't true in any way. Uber once upon a time was a bidder on Here Maps, which provided most of Bing's mapping data, but they lost to a consortium of German car makers (BMW, Daimler, Audi): http://www.wsj.com/articles/bmw-daimler-audi-agree-to-buy-no...
No. I can't name a source though. Basically Microsoft was hemmoraghing money on this unit and Uber took a chunk of staff, the tech, AND the operating expenses.
$1 doesn't make any sense. Perhaps you're leaving out some form of equity swap. Bankrupt companies get purchased all the time for millions of dollars and I can't imagine Microsoft's business team would allow such a shitty deal.
Google has the map data. Google are working on autonomous vehicles. When they get the latter, what is the need for Uber? The $250M would be an irrelevant sunk cost at that point.
Google is invested in uber, why would they not supply them the data they needed?