The upstarts Uber and Airbnb, frequently named in tandem by sharing-economy proponents and critics, were the defendants in a global trial during this time of uninhibited growth. The issues being litigated were critical: Did the benefits of their dominance outweigh the well-publicized drawbacks? What was their true impact on cities? Were they good for society or bad? Facing these questions, Travis Kalanick and Brian Chesky, both shedding the baggage of their pasts, would have to rise to meet the future with credible testimony on behalf of their companies.
