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Watch a 98-Year-Old World War II Vet Absolutely Demolish a Tesla With a Tank

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A 98-year-old World War II veteran, who served in the British Army, absolutely destroyed a Tesla vehicle with the license plate

Crushing Fascism

A 98-year-old World War II veteran, who served in the British Army, absolutely destroyed a Tesla vehicle with the license plate "FASCIM" in a recently shared YouTube video.

As first spotted by Gizmodo, veteran Ken Turner used a Sherman tank, one of the most widely used tanks used by the US and its western allies against the Nazis in World War II, to turn a navy blue Tesla into a pancake.

The video was uploaded by the British anti-Brexit and anti-conservative political group Led by Donkeys to send a clear message.

"Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is using his immense power to support the far-right in Europe, and his money comes from Tesla cars," the group wrote in the video's caption. "We’ve crushed fascism before and we’ll crush it again."

Tesla Smackdown

The symbolic stunt highlights Musk's embrace of extremist and racist views. The mercurial CEO has used his considerable platform to further unhinged conspiracy theories and spread hurtful anti-immigrant rhetoric.

And who could forget president Donald Trump's post-inauguration celebration, during which Musk performed not just one but two Nazi salutes?

He has appeared at a rally for the Alternative for Germany party — a growing, far-right nationalist contingency boasting ties to neo-Nazism — and attended meetings with Italian right-wing populist political party Lega.

As a result, anti-Musk sentiment has soared, giving life to an international protest movement, dubbed "Tesla Takedown."

It's a terrifying new predicament, with experts warning of the rise of technofeudalism, ruled by a tiny number of "broligarchs," like Musk.

To some, it's an eerie deja vu of some of the darkest chapters in recent human history.

"I’m old enough to have seen fascism the first time around, now it’s coming back," said veteran Turner in the latest video — before crushing the Tesla in a tank.

More on Elon Musk: As Sales Continue to Plummet, Tesla Is Considering a Massive Payday for Elon Musk

The post Watch a 98-Year-Old World War II Vet Absolutely Demolish a Tesla With a Tank appeared first on Futurism.

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Watch a 98-Year-Old World War II Vet Absolutely Demolish a Tesla With a Tank

World Leaders Shown AI Baby Versions of Themselves at European Summit

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World leaders being shown baby versions of themselves at a global summit.

Baby Erdo?an's Mustache

It's called diplomacy, guys.

This year's European Political Community, an annual forum for European leaders founded in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, kicked off on Friday in Tirana, Albania. Europe's leaders were greeted with a ten-ish minute presentation that celebrated Europe's commitment to sovereignty and shared triumphs over evil. There were flashing lights and dance performances, and a few different video sequences. And to close out the show, as Politico reports, the Albanian government landed on the obvious editorial choice: a montage of the summit's leaders pictured as AI-generated babies, who each said "Welcome to Albania" in their country's language.

It was perfect. Did baby-fied Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, Turkey's authoritarian strongman, rock a tiny AI-generated mustache? He did indeed! Did French President Emmanuel Macron smack his gum in pleasant bemusement as he watched his AI baby self smile onscreen? You bet!

Our hats are off to Edi Rama, Albania's recently re-elected president. So far, between MAGAworld and its monarch embracing AI slop as its defining aesthetic, AI-generated misinformation causing chaos, and attempted AI mayors and political parties, this is easily the most compelling use of generative AI in politics we've seen.

Politicking

The camera televising the event repeatedly panned to the crowd, where the response from Europe's most powerful was mixed. Some laughed, while others bristled; some mostly looked confused. Which makes sense, given that this is a serious conference where, per Politico, the majority of leaders are looking to push for harsher sanctions on Russia as its war on Ukraine wages on and tense talks between Moscow and Kyiv continue without a ceasefire.

It's unclear how the AI baby bit fit into Albania's message of a peaceful, unified Europe. Though the presentation did start with childlike drawings, the sounds of kids laughing, and a youthful voiceover, so maybe it was an attempt to bring the show full circle? Or maybe, considering the heavy subject matter and fast-heating global tension and uncertainty, Rama just wanted to break the ice.

Anyway. We're sure nothing will humble you, a leader of a nation, like sitting in an auditorium and oscillating between unsure grimaces and giggling whilst staring down your AI-generated baby face.

More on AI and guys in Europe: The New Pope Is Deeply Skeptical of AI

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World Leaders Shown AI Baby Versions of Themselves at European Summit