Monthly Archives: September 2022

AUSTIN, Texas Tesla CEO and internet personality Elon Musk shocked the nation Monday by announcing that, in a last-ditch effort to buy the publics love, everyone could pick out any one toy from Walmart.

I just want you to love me, Musk said outside the Walmart. So I mean it, everyone go and pick out one toy, its on me. Im not skimping on the type of toy either, make it a LEGO set or a Switch game, I dont care. And before you ask, yes, you can have two small toys in place of one big toy if you so choose. Will this buy your affection for a while? You all like me now, right? Im the cool tech guy that buys people things. I care about the water in Detroit or something like that. I said Id fix that, right? And its fixed now? Never can remember how that ended. Anyway, go enjoy your toy, and keep it in mind when my next scandal comes out, please.

Some Americans felt that this move was symbolic of their relationship with Musk.

This actually completely puts everything in perspective: Elon Musk is like our rich deadbeat dad, said local man Mark Harpo. Every once in a while he swoops into our lives and just when you think he might be reformed, he fucks up worse then ever before. You can tell he wants to be liked from the material things he flexes, but his actions are cruel and cold. Reminds me of my dad.

At press time, an increasingly magnanimous Musk announced that he is allowing all Tesla employees thirty minutes to see their families one last time.

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Elon Musk Announces Nation Can Pick One Toy from Walmart in Latest Attempt to Buy Public's Love - Hard Drive

Elon Musk, Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs all have one personality trait in common and it might be a clue to their ability to amass so much success.

That's according to author and historian Walter Isaacson who wrote Jobs' biography and is working on one about Musk. Isaacson says that Musk like both Jobs and Gates is unemotional when dealing with employees or colleagues, and uncompromising when it comes to fulfilling his grand vision for his businesses.

"That ability to not be as emotionally, empathetically engaged in order to see [their] vision through. It's something Steve Jobs had, it's something Bill Gates [has]," Isaacson said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "It's something a lot of these people have, because they're not looking for affection from the person sitting across from them. They're looking to get rockets to Mars."

In the past, some of Musk's employees at Tesla have described him as an extreme micromanager who isn't shy about expressing his displeasure when workers fall short of his lofty standards, or fail to meet his overly ambitious deadlines.He can be harsh, and not always easy to work for, but also often inspiring and funny, employees have said.

That sounds a lot like what Apple employees have said about Jobs. The Apple co-founder reportedly could be extremely blunt when sharing his opinions of employees' work, especially if he wasn't impressed with it. In 2019, former Apple executive Guy Kawasaki said that Jobs rarely wasted any time on "social niceties" at the office and "demanded excellence" from his employees.

"You had to prove yourself every day, or Jobs got rid of you," Kawasaki said.

Some of the complaints against Musk the world's richest person, with a net worth of $274.3 billion, as of Wednesday afternoon go beyond mere workplace rudeness. Musk and Tesla have faced criticism over allegedly poor working conditions in the company's factories, with Musk admitting that he asks a lot of his employees.

"If the expectation is, 'Hey, we can live and not work hard and not strain extremely to a great degree,' this is false. That is not true. In order for us to succeed, in order for us to live, we must work very hard," Musk told Bloomberg Businessweek in 2018.

Still, Isaacson said he sees a direct comparison between Musk and Jobs' social bluntness. "Musk is very similar [to Jobs] in being extraordinarily open," he said. "That transparency is part of his genius."

The comparisons extend out to Gates, too even though the two billionaires don't always get along. Gates has admitted that in his early days of leading Microsoft, he "certainly wasn't a sweetheart." In a 2020 interview on the "Armchair Expert" podcast, Gates said both he and longtime friend Jobs were known for their intense competitive fire that translated into extremely high expectations for their employees and themselves.

For Musk, who runs both Tesla and SpaceX, being brusque and to the point with his employees might also be a natural byproduct of being crunched for time, due to his multiple leadership roles. Isaacson, who told CNBC that he is regularly in touch with Musk these days, said the CEO's personality allows him to filter out distractions like the ongoing legal battle over his bid to buy Twitter, for example when he needs to focus on a task at hand.

"He's able to sequentially focus in a way that I almost find like he's half-Vulcan or something," Isaacson said. "Because he doesn't wake up in the morning ... worrying about depositions, he's worrying about valves in the new engine for the Starship."

Isaacson later clarified that Musk definitely "cares about his reputation" but that doesn't change his tendency to be blunt, or even harsh, with employees when it comes to executing a vision for his companies.

"If he's sitting in front of four or five people who have messed up getting the booster of Starship right, he says, 'If I'm starting to feel empathy [for them] instead of moving them out, then that's a misplaced empathy. My empathy has to be with the enterprise of getting to Mars, not with the person in front of me,'" Isaacson said.

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This personality trait helped Musk, Gates and Jobs succeed, says biographer: 'It's something a lot of these people have' - CNBC

Forrest couldnt let that invective slide. He told the Financial Times, He [Musk] knows that, almost every time a Tesla is plugged into almost every grid in the world, it is just burning coal and oil and gas.I mean, it is doing nothing for the environment. So, his mind-boggling stupid is whitewash.

A difference of opinion around technological weaponry is legitimate enough. The science is still emerging and the jury is still out on whether green hydrogen is a commercial solution - although Forrest has spent a lot of time and resources to prove it up.

Fortescue announced in June it will replace almost half the haul trucks at its Pilbara iron ore mines with battery and hydrogen-powered units from German firm Liebherr which will use technology from WAE.Credit:Fortescue

But what is really mind-boggling is that Forrest - the ultimate businessman - has accused Musk of being too business-like.

If one strips back the theatre from Forrests announcement about Fortescues plan to eradicate the companys emissions within eight years, what you end up with is a financial road map containing two important messages for investors.

The first part of that process is to cement the investment required to transform Fortescues operations into an oasis of green. The second is a very clear statement about the yearly and cumulative savings for Fortescue.

In a nutshell, Forrest says there will be net operating cost savings of $US818 million ($1.2 billion) per annum from 2030, at prevailing market prices of diesel, gas and Australian Carbon Credit Units. (The prevailing prices of diesel and gas are currently particularly high, thanks to the war in Ukraine and a lot could change over the next couple of years.)

Fortescue has also flagged cumulative operating cost savings of $US3 billion ($4.5 billion) by 2030 and payback of capital by 2034, at prevailing market prices.

On the other side of the ledger, the miner plans to invest $US6.2 billion ($9.2 billion) of capital on renewable projects to reach its real zero emissions goal.

It is an investment that Forrest says falls well within the envelope of the promise Fortescue made to investors that no more than 10 per cent of the iron ore companys profits would be spent on Fortescue Future Industries capital expenditure.

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Needless to say, Forrest had his businessman hat firmly on his head when he created the iron ore business that funds his nascent push to create an international environmental company.

While incumbent Fortescue shareholders bought into the company to access its massive cash flows from iron ore, Forrest also has his business hat in place in recognising that a successful environmentally friendly mining company would be particularly attractive to investors looking to enhance their own eco-credentials.

Theres no doubting Forrests passion for the environment and by the same token, investors shouldnt be worried about the billionaire pursuing his passion at the expense of commercial returns.

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Musk v Forrest: The clash of eco-titans and their enormous egos - Sydney Morning Herald

Is artificial intelligence (AI) as smart as humans or is it smarter? As per scientists, it takes the human brain 25 years to reach full maturity, but new research claims that the AI used by Elon musk's Tesla could equal that in only 17 years.

Researchers have long predicted that artificial intelligence will eventually surpass human intelligence, although there are different predictions as to when that will happen.

Watch |World Business Watch: Tesla sued by drivers over autopilot, full self-driving features

According to a study by Autotrader company Vanarama, Tesla's new microchip will be "more intelligent" than humans by 2033.

The study points out that it already has processing capability equivalent to 36 per cent of a human brain.About 100 billion neurons make up a human brain, which triples in size during a baby's first year and develops fully by the age of 25.

Tesla microchips and their processing power in comparison to human brain. (Graphic: Vanarama)

"Tesla's new D1 microchip is more powerful than any the manufacturer has previously used in its cars managing 362 trillion operations per second. Its processing power is already over a third (36 per cent) of a human's brain, which is capable of one quadrillion operations per second."

Also read |Are children at risk from Elon Musk's self-driving technology? Group claims software will 'mow' kids down

Tesla microchips and their processing power. (Graphic: Vanarama)

In comparison, the first chip, an Nvidia component from 2016, achieved "only" 12 trillion.

By analysing both current and prior models, the organisation discovered that the capability of Tesla microchips is growing at a pace of 486 per cent every year.

Also read |Self-driving cars from Tesla to be ready by year-end, says Elon Musk

The new D1 chip, which is a component of the Dojo supercomputer platform and the company's Autopilot self-driving system, will soon be made available by Musk's company.

It wouldn't be insane to think that technology will surpass humans in intelligence within our lifetimes, says Vanaram.

"Microchips are currently capable of working the way brain synapses do, with researchers developing chips that are inspired by the way the brain operates."

(With inputs from agencies)

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By 2033, Elon Musk`s Tesla and its AI will be smarter than humans: Study - WION

Elon Musks SpaceX-owned satellite internet broadband service Starlink on Monday announced its presence in all seven continents, including Antarctica. This means even the most remote areas can soon have connectivity via satellite internet.

The company tested one of its Starlink internet terminals at McMurdo Station in Antarctica which is inhabited by almost 1,000 people.

What's interesting is despite having thousands of tiny satellites in space that are making internet available in major parts of the world, Starlink, which quietly rolled out internet services in India last year, had to shut down services after government intervention and it doesnt look like it will be available anytime soon in India. To add to its woes, Reliance Jio earlier this year announced its satellite-based internet service in the country, making the task tougher for Musks Starlink.

What Is Starlink?

Starlink consists of thousands of satellites that orbit the Earth at 550 km from the surface. It aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity to people who live in remote areas.

Because of its relative proximity to Earth's surface, Starlink offers considerably fast signals. Starlink offers a latency between 2040 milliseconds, and the internet speeds vary from 50Mbps to 150Mbps.

Starlink claims to have latency as low as around 20 ms, however, many low-level satellites are needed to provide full coverage of the globe.

Starlink reportedly has around 3,000 low-level satellites in space and the company plans to use around 10,000 of them to offer its services in more places.

Why Starlink Couldnt Offer Its Satellite Internet In India?

Last year, Starlink registered its business in India via a local unit, Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited. The company has planned to provide fast internet data in the Indian market at the lowest price compared to the international market.

The then Starlink India director Sanjay Bhargava said Starlink was planning an April rollout, targeting 200,000 devices by December 2022.

Bhargava claimed SpaceX had a 100 percent owned subsidiary in India and would be able to apply for licenses, open bank accounts, etc.

Starlink had received more than 5,000 pre-orders after the announcement. However, the government said Starlink Internet Services doesnt have the license to offer services in India.

The Department of Telecom warned Starlink against taking further bookings. Meanwhile, Bhargava stepped down as Starlink Country Director, India, just four months after his appointment.

In November last year, the Department of Telecommunications warned people to not buy Starlink Internet Services. In a statement, the telecom department told Elon Musks company to get a licence before offering Satellite-based services.

Reliance Jio To Bring Satellite-Based Internet To India

Adding to Starlinks woes, in February this year, Reliance Jio announced its foray into satellite-based internet with a joint venture with SES -- a Luxembourg-based satellite content connectivity solutions provider, under the name of Jio Space Technology Limited to deliver multi-gigabit links to enterprises and retail customers, offering a maximum speed of 100Gbps.

They intend to make use of multi-orbit space networks -- a combination of geostationary and medium earth orbit satellite constellations that are capable of offering multi-gigabit links, while also sporting the capacity to power enterprises and retail customers across India.

Akash Ambani, Director of Jio, said, While we continue to expand our fiber-based connectivity and FTTH business and invest in 5G, this new joint venture with SES will further accelerate the growth of multigigabit broadband. With additional coverage and capacity offered by satellite communications services, Jio will be able to connect the remotest towns and villages, enterprises, government establishments, and consumers to the new Digital India. We are excited about this new journey combining our massive reach and customer base with SESs innovative leadership and expertise in the satellite industry.

On september 12, JSCL received a key approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to start high-speed broadband-from-space services.

Jio Vs Starlink

SES has satellites in geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO), while Starlink satellites are in low earth orbit (LEO).

GEO satellites are positioned at an altitude of 36,000 km; MEO at 5,000-20,000 km while LEO is positioned at 500-1,200 km.

While it would take just three GEO satellites to cover the whole Earth, LEO satellites are smaller and cheaper to launch than GEOs or MEOs.

Reliance hasnt made it clear yet if Jio Space Technology will also consider low-Earth orbit, or LEO, satellites -- a category that provides rapid data transmission, or lower latency, since they are closer to Earth.

Russia's Hostility Towards Starlink

As Russian forces advanced in Ukraine, they closed down Ukrainian internet services and tried to block social media.

Musk made Starlink available in Ukraine immediately after the invasion started after Mykhailo Fedorov, the country's vice prime minister called on Musk for help in late February.

About 15,000 of Starlink's sets of dishes and routers have been shipped to the country.

Russia recently issued a complaint against Starlink satellites, which are being allegedly used for military purposes, hinting that these may become a "legitimate target" for wartime operations.

During a United Nations meeting on reducing space threats earlier this week, a Russian official without naming Starlink said "the United States and its allies" are using satellites for military use which "may become a legitimate target for retaliation".

Notably, the Starlink constellation has over 2,800 satellites and many are parked over Ukraine to provide internet services in the country owing to the disruption of communication after Russia's attack.

A few days after Russia's statements, Musk tweeted that "Starlink is for peaceful use only".

In May this year, Musk said Russia has increased its efforts to jam SpaceX's Starlink Satellite internet in Ukraine but hasn't succeeded.

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Elon Musks Starlink Satellite Internet Has Reached Antarctica, But Why It's Still Not Available In India? - Outlook India

Elon Musks satellite internet provider Starlink will try to offer its service to people in Iran, provided U.S. sanctions against the country can be waived, according to the billionaire. Musk declare his intentions to enter the market in response to a tweet from someone who said they were in Iran on Monday and wanted to know if Starlink would ever be available in the country.

Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard, Musk tweeted.

U.S. sanctions against Iran are some of the toughest in the world and often limit the ability of everyday people to receive basic medical supplies and medicines sometimes not because those medicines are specifically mentioned in American sanctions legislation but because businesses and banks are afraid to do business in Iran, a side effect known as overcompliance.

But it appears Musk isnt afraid of doing business with Iran, despite his company SpaceXs lucrative government contracts and his need to maintain a security clearance with the Pentagon. Musks illicit drug use was previously an issue for the U.S. Department of Defence.

Will Musk actually follow through and apply for an exemption? That remains to be seen, given his propensity for saying lots of things and following through on just a small percentage of those promises. But the people in Iran no doubt await with bated breath.

Some sanctions against Iran were lifted during the Obama era when the JSPOA was signed, they were strengthened again under the Trump regime when the 45th president unilaterally violated the deal. And while President Joe Biden has shown no interest in reviving the deal with Iran, its not clear what the current president would do if Musk came to him hat-in-hand for a sanctions waiver.

Then again, Musk has made fun of Biden in the past. So, who knows?

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Elon Musk Wants to Sell Satellite Internet to Iran If He Can Get an Exemption on Sanctions - Gizmodo Australia