Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
This is a show where we discuss the critical Crossroads, The
Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink.
And I'm your host, Will Walden. Because of your continued
dedication to this podcast, I've been able to create the Elon
Musk Podcast on YouTube and we will be doing our first live
stream this Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern on January 14th.
That's 2:00 PM Eastern January 14th on youtube.com/the Elon
Musk Podcast. Now we're going to be talking
about SpaceX, Tesla, everything, Elon Musk.
Also some ChatGPT Open AI some other AI news, so please TuneIn
this Sunday 2:00 PM January 14th at youtube.com/the Elon Musk
Podcast. Controversy surrounds Elon Musk,
the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla over allegations of drug use,
including incidents involving cocaine, LSD and ketamine.
Now, these claims have raised concerns about Musk's well-being
and the potential impact on his companies and their
stakeholders. Musk, however, refutes these
allegations, stating that three years of random drug testing by
NASA found no evidence of drug or alcohol use.
The situation gained traction after Musk smoked marijuana on
the Joe Rogan podcast in 2018, and following this, NASA
requested that Musk undergo random drug testing for three
years, to which he agreed. According to Musk, these tests
showed no traces of drugs or alcohol.
Now this response comes amiss a Wall Street Journal report
suggesting ongoing drug use and abuse by Musk, a claim he
denies. A Musk's reaction to the WSG
report was dismissive and critical, labeling the report as
unworthy and using a poop emoji to express his disdain.
Despite his rebuttals, stories and speculations about his drug
use continue to surface. These include concerns expressed
by Tesla board members and reports of erratic behavior
attributed to drug influence, such as his tweet about taking
Tesla private. Now, NASA's involvement
escalated after Musk's appearance on Rogan's podcast,
leading to a $5,000,000 probe into his drug use.
This investigation aimed to ensure compliance with the drug
free workplace requirements of Spacex's $14 billion government
contracts. The results of this
investigation, however, remain undisclosed.
Representatives for Musk and his companies, including SpaceX,
Tesla, and X, formerly Twitter, have not provided immediate
responses to inquiries about these allegations.
Musk himself has been relatively quiet on the issue, aside from
his dismissive tweet following the WSG article.
Now in defense of Musk, a post on X highlighted his compliance
with NASA's drug testing request, and Musk emphasized
that the test over three years found no trace of drugs or
alcohol. His attorney, Alex Bureau, did
not immediately respond to any requests from the Wall Street
Journal report either. Now, the Wall Street Journal's
reporting has stirred significant discussion, though,
with claims of Musk's use of various drugs, including cocaine
and ketamine. Now, despite these allegations,
the Journal stands by its reporting.
The situation has reportedly caused unease among senior
figures of Musk's companies, with a Tesla board director even
opting not to run for re election due to concern over
Musk's alleged drug use. The Wall Street Journal report
also suggested that SpaceX executives worried about Musk's
state during a company meeting, hinting at possible drug
influence. This incident, coupled with Musk
controversial tweet about Tesla going private, has escalated
concerns about his behavior and its potential impact on his
companies. Musk's admission of using small
doses of ketamine for depression and his infamous smoking
incident on Rogan's podcast prompted NASA to investigate his
drug use, and so far the results are unknown, and it was part of
NASA's commitment to ensuring that the place was drug free.
SpaceX was drug free. They're building rockets for the
Artemis program. They have to be drug free and
also they're sending people to the International Space Station
and satellites with their Falcon 9 rockets.
Now Musk has acknowledged SpaceX employees compliance with drug
testing requirements following the Rogan incident.
This adherence was crucial as SpaceX, being a NASA contractor,
had to uphold laws pertaining to drug free workplaces.
Musk's comments suggest his awareness of legal and
contractual obligations related to drug use and NASA's
investigation into Spacex's workplace safety, including drug
use, was extensive. It covered multiple SpaceX
facilities and involved interviews with a significant
number of employees. Hundreds of employees, and
despite the thorough nature of this probe, the results have
been heavily redacted, with NASA citing confidentiality and
competitive concerns. Now, a report for the Business
Insider and their efforts to obtain details of the NASA probe
face challenges, with initial responses from the agency
indicating no records of the assessments Results.
However, further insistence led to the release of some
documents. Although heavily redacted, this
has sparked further curiosity about the investigation's
findings. Now, the probe scope included
Spacex's commitment to safety and health practices,
particularly in the context of transporting astronauts.
The NASA letter initiated the review highlighted the
importance of safety in the US space program and the need for
compliance with industry standards and legal
requirements. Despite the extensive nature and
cost of the investigation, NASA has opted not to publicly
release all the results, citing the proprietary nature of the
information. This decision has left many
questions unanswered regarding the findings of the probe in its
implications for SpaceX and Elon Musk.
Now, William Gerstenmeyer, the NASA administrator who requested
the review, left the agency after the conclusion of the
probe. He later joined SpaceX as the
vice president of Build and flight reliability, a move that
adds an interesting twist to the narrative surrounding this
investigation And there's an ongoing controversy surrounding
Elon Musk's drug use. And while Musk denies any
wrongdoing, the context of the allegations and the involvement
of organizations like NASA show that this issue remains an
important and unresolved aspect of his public and professional
life. Tesla competitor Ford Motor
Company recently released their fourth quarter sales data,
revealing a pretty big contrast here.
And while they achieved a record in EV sales, the success is
paired with significant short term financial losses.
And in 2023, Ford's U.S. sales surged by 7.1%, reaching 2
million vehicles sold. This increase was driven
primarily by their popular F Series trucks, robust commercial
vehicle sales and record setting performance in the EV sector.
Now Ford's F series maintain his position as America's top
selling truck for the 47th consecutive year in the best
selling vehicle for the 42nd year.
Now this dominance, partially attributed to competition
between General Motors, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, shows
that Ford is enduring this now. For investors though, the
noteworthy aspect lies in the success of Ford's EV versions of
his flagship trucks. The F-150 Lightning emerged as
the top selling electric truck while the F-150 Hybrid led the
full size hybrid truck market. This shows Ford's ability to
transition its gasoline powered truck dominance into the EV
world. You know, so maybe they can
dominate that eventually if cyber truck doesn't have
anything to do with it. We're big fans of the Cyber
Truck here, so I think Ford has a chance to continue on because
let's just face it, the Cyber Truck isn't for everybody here.
Now, Ford's EV sector, particularly in the fourth
quarter of 2023 saw a significant uplift.
The company sold nearly 26,000 EVs in this period, a 24%
increase for the third quarter of this growth contributed to an
18% rise in EV sales for the full year.
The F-150 Lightning was a major contributor to this growth, with
its sales up 74% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous
year. Ford's Mustang Mach E and the E
Transit also helped the company secure its position as America's
second ranked EV brand in 2023. However, Ford's triumph in the
EV market comes with the caveat. Despite record EV sales, the
company is experiencing financial losses in its EV
sector. Ford estimated its Model E unit,
which focuses on E VS would incur losses of approximately
$4.5 billion in 2023. Ford's management remains
optimistic though anticipating a turn around in the Model E units
profitability by the end of 2026.
They show that the confidence is based on expected reductions in
costs and an increase in production efficiency.
The company views the current situation as a necessary phase
towards long term profitability. And remember, Ford is only a few
years into the EV game. Companies like Tesla have been
in this for over a decade, so Ford has a lot of catch up to
do, and they have a lot of learning to do as well.
And Ford's strategy for achieving an 8% EBIT margin by
2026 involves scaling production and sales, along with
improvements in design, engineering and battery cost
reductions. And these steps are seen as
essential for enhancing Ford's financial performance in the
coming years. Despite the challenges in the EV
sector, there's plenty of them. Ford wants some growth, and they
see growth in 2024, driven by its strong lineup of SUVs and
trucks. The company plans to introduce
new models across the F Series, Ranger, Explorer, Expedition and
the Lincoln Ranges as well. The importance of continuous EV
sales growth for Ford can't be overstated.
Despite the current losses, sustained sales are crucial for
the company to achieve profitability in the near future
and into 2026 now. Investors considering Ford Motor
Company stocks should weigh these developments very
carefully, though. The company's performance in the
EV market, despite its current losses, is a critical factor in
evaluating its future prospects. Ford's a stable company, but you
never know what's going to happen in the next few years
that they can't get those costs down.
In 2023, Ford's F series, including the F-150 Lightning
and Super Duty trucks, recorded 750,789 deliveries in the US.
This performance is critical in understanding Ford's market
dynamics, especially when contrasting with General Motors.
Combined sales of the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra
Electric trucks growing segment in the market are also reshaping
the competitive landscape. Ford's F-150 Lightning leads the
category, while other manufacturers like General
Motors and also Rivian are making notable strides.
I'm also a fan of Rivian. So if you're a fan of Rivian,
I'm right there with you. I love the headlights.
They're cute. Hybrid trucks are another area
where Ford holds strong position.
F-150 Power Boost, Maverick Hybrid dominate their respective
segments shows that Ford's capability in both full size and
compact hybrid truck markets. Looking at the broad truck
market though, the competitive landscape includes various
players like Stalantis's Ram Series, Toyota's Tundra and
Nissan's Titan. Each brand brings unique
offerings to the table with Ford maintaining a strong presence
amongst all of them. Now, Tesla's cyber truck is also
a challenge to Ford. Despite its high initial
interest, Tesla's production and delivery capabilities will be
critical in determining its impact on the market.
It's almost a niche product at this point.
It is not traditional. Most truck owners that I've
talked to, and this is a little personal side note, not quite
news, but they're kind of on the fence with it.
They think it looks neat, but they don't see the reason to
have a neat looking truck when their truck already performs
well. These are farmers and people
that haul a lot of wood and things like that.
So it might be a hard sell for the cyber truck to a a working
class blue collar person. But the affordability of full
size pickups remains a key factor for all these consumers.
And as of now, the Ram 1500 Classic emerges as the most
affordable option with Ford's F-150 and Chevy Silverado also
competitively priced. Now, Ford's latest sales data
presents a kind of a complex picture here. record-breaking EV
sales signal a strong move towards electrification, but
come with a substantial short term financial loss.
The company's strategy and the future model releases suggest
optimism for growth despite these current challenges.
And as we continue to evolve and the auto industry continues to
evolve, Ford will continue to evolve with it getting their
costs down and producing more E VS in the future.
Hertz rental cars or Hertz Global Holdings announced that
it's planned to sell approximately 20,000 electric
vehicles from its rental fleets. This is attributed to the
escalating costs associated with collision and damage of these
vehicles leaving the company to favor less expensive to fix gas
powered alternatives. Now this announcement impacted
the stock market with Hertz shares dropping around 4%.
Tesla, a significant part of Hertz's EV fleet also saw its
shares declined by about 3% at that time.
The financial impact on Hertz is pretty substantial.
The company anticipates a charge of roughly $245,000,000 in the
fourth quarter of last year related to the deprecation
expenses from the sale of these EVs and Hertz move highlights
the challenging situation for EVs in the current market.
Growth in EV sales has decelerated a little bit,
prompting manufacturers like GM and Ford to reconsider their
production strategies going forward.
Now Adam Jonas and analysts and Morgan Stanley interprets Hertz
decision as a cautionary sign for the burgeoning EV sector.
Right now, he suggests a need to recalibrate market expectations
for electric vehicles and also for rental fleets.
Now Jonas points out that despite the appealing driving
experience and fuel efficiency of EVs, ownership entails
additional, often overlooked costs.
Now Hertz. Previous commitments to electric
vehicles included an order of 100,000 Tesla cars by the end of
2022 and a subsequent agreement to purchase up to 65,000
vehicles from Polestar over five years.
And Hertz cited elevated, expensive linked to EV
collisions and damages as a primary reason for this
decision, as mentioned in the regulatory filing, Meanwhile,
German car rental company 6th SIXT has also moved away from
Tesla. They stopped purchasing Tesla
vehicles since 2022 and are now selling off their Tesla fleet as
part of the regular vehicle rotation.
And despite divesting from Tesla, 6th remains committed to
electrifying its fleet aiming to convert 70 to 90% of its
European rental fleet to electric by 2030.
Now Hertz, while reducing its EV inventory plans to continue
enhancing the profitability in its remaining electric fleet.
Now market trends indicated decline in used EV prices
through most of 2023. This trend is expected to
persist with used E VS projected to deprecate more than overall
used vehicle market in 2024, according to Cox Automotive.
Fun fact, I used to work for Cox Automotive for about two years
and I love the experience there. Great company to work for great
people. Carl Brewer, the IC Cars
spokesman, notes that while 20,000 vehicles represent a
small fraction of the used vehicle market, Hertz's sales
will contribute to the ongoing trend of depreciating used EV
values, resulting in significant losses for the company.
Hertz is offering some of his Model 3 vehicles at nearly half
their original purchase price, with listings as low as $20,000.
So get on it if you're looking for an EV, More than likely you
can get a Tesla for much cheaper than retail.
Now this move comes as the company aimed for 25% of its
fleet to be electrified by the end of 2024.
Over 700 E VS, including models from BMW, Chevy, and Tesla, are
listed for sale on Hertz's used Auto website.
These sales provide an opportunity for consumers to
acquire affordable electric vehicles like Model threes and
Recurrent Auto suggests that Hertz test the model threes
might qualify for a used EV tax rebate too, so you can save
potentially more money now. This situation presents an
attractive option for you if you're seeking affordable E VS
despite concerns over the reliability and high mileage
that other rental cars would have too.
Personally, I know people that have bought their vehicles from
rental agencies and they turned out to be OK.
Nothing really wrong with them. It's kind of like buying a car
from a regular person, but just a bunch of different people
doing different sort of driving than say what I was told when I
bought my Subaru, my last Subaru, that it was used by a
grandma going from her house to the grocery store.
So which I don't think that's actually true, but you know
what? Burlington Subaru you got me.
But that was a great car, 200,000 miles at that one.
So they got me on that one. I'm not sure the models or the
makes of the model threes or the actual serial numbers, but I'm
sure they're in pretty good condition.
So to go check them out, see if they're good for you.
Now, comparisons with other marketplaces, though, like
CarMax and Autotrader, show that Hertz's offerings are
competitively priced. Consumer Reports rates the Model
3's reliability as average, supporting the notion that
Hertz's Tesla vehicles are pretty good values.
Now, Hertz's decision to sell a substantial portion of its EV
fleet shows a big shift in its business strategy, reflecting
the current challenges and economic realities of the EV
market. This move offers customers an
opportunity to purchase EVs at lower prices with considerations
regarding their condition and reliability.
It might be right for you, so go check it out.
Hertz Rental Cars or Hertz Global Holdings announced that
it's planned to sell approximately 20,000 electric
vehicles from its rental fleets. This is attributed to the
escalating costs associated with collision and damage of these
vehicles, leaving the company to favor less expensive to fix gas
powered alternatives. Now this announcement impacted
the stock market with Hertz shares dropping around 4%.
Tesla, a significant part of Hertz's EV fleet also saw its
shares decline by about 3% at that time.
The financial impact on Hertz is pretty substantial.
The company anticipates a charge of roughly $245,000,000 in the
fourth quarter of last year related to the deprecation
expenses from the sale of these EVs and Hertz move highlights
the challenging situation for EVs in the current market.
Growth in EV sales has decelerated a little bit,
prompting manufacturers like GM and Ford to reconsider their
production strategies going forward.
Now, Adam Jonas and analysts and Morgan Stanley interprets Hertz
decision as a cautionary sign for the burgeoning EV sector
right now. He suggests a need to
recalibrate market expectations for electric vehicles and also
for rental fleets. Now.
Jonas points out that despite the appealing driving experience
and fuel efficiency of EVs, ownership entails additional,
often overlooked costs. Now Hertz.
Previous commitments to electric vehicles included an order of
100,000 Tesla cars by the end of 2022 and a subsequent agreement
to purchase up to 65,000 vehicles from Polestar over five
years, and Hertz cited elevated, expensive linked to EV
collisions and damages as a primary reason for this
decision, as mentioned in the regulatory filing.
Meanwhile, German car rental company 6th SIXT has also moved
away from Tesla. They stopped purchasing Tesla
vehicles since 2022 and are now selling off their Tesla fleet as
part of the regular vehicle rotation.
And despite divesting from Tesla 6th remains committed to
electrifying its fleet, aiming to convert 70 to 90% of its
European rental fleet to electric by 2030.
Now Hertz, while reducing its EV inventory, plans to continue
enhancing the profitability in its remaining electric fleet.
Now market trends indicate a decline in used EV prices
through most of 2023. This trend is expected to
persist with used E VS projected to deprecate more than overall
used vehicle market in 2024, according to Cox Automotive.
Fun fact, I used to work for Cox Automotive for about two years
and I love the experience there. Great company to work for great
people. Carl Brewer, the IC Cars
spokesman, notes that while 20,000 vehicles represent a
small fraction of the used vehicle market, Hertz's sales
will contribute to the ongoing trend of depreciating used EV
values, resulting in significant losses for the company.
Hertz is offering some of his Model 3 vehicles at nearly half
their original purchase price, with listings as low as $20,000.
So get on it if you're looking for an EV, More than likely you
can get a Tesla for much cheaper than retail.
Now this move comes as the company aimed for 25% of its
fleet to be electrified by the end of 2024.
Over 700 E VS, including models from BMW, Chevy, and Tesla, are
listed for sale on Hertz's used Auto website.
These sales provide an opportunity for consumers to
acquire affordable electric vehicles like Model threes and
Recurrent Auto suggests that Hertz test the model threes
might qualify for a used EV tax rebate too, so you can save
potentially more money now. This situation presents an
attractive option for you if you're seeking affordable E VS
despite concerns over the reliability and high mileage
that other rental cars would have too.
Personally, I know people that have bought their vehicles from
rental agencies and they turned out to be OK.
Nothing really wrong with them. It's kind of like buying a car
from a regular person, but just a bunch of different people
doing different sort of driving than say what I was told when I
bought my Subaru, my last Subaru, that it was used by a
grandma going from her house to the grocery store.
So which I don't think that's actually true, but you know
what? Burlington Subaru you got me.
But that was a great car, 200,000 miles at that one.
So they got me on that one. I'm not sure the models or the
makes of the model threes or the actual serial numbers, but I'm
sure they're in pretty good condition.
So to go check them out, see if they're good for you.
Now, comparisons with other marketplaces, though, like
CarMax and Autotrader, show that Hertz's offerings are
competitively priced. Consumer Reports rates the Model
3's reliability as average, supporting the notion that
Hertz's Tesla vehicles are pretty good values.
Now Hertz's decision to sell a substantial portion of its EV
fleet shows a big shift in its business strategy, reflecting
the current challenges and economic realities of the EV
market. This move offers customers an
opportunity to purchase EVs at lower prices with considerations
regarding their condition and reliability.
It might be right for you, so go check it out.
Honda Motors has introduced a new electric vehicle series, the
Honda 0, set to launch in North America in 2026.
Now this series includes 2 new concepts, the Saloon, A sleek
sedan like vehicle and the Space Hub which is a boxier fan style
model. Now these are lighter, more
aerodynamic electric vehicles, contrasting the current trend of
larger and heavier EVs like Cybertruck.
Now the Honda 0 Series is built on three Guided principles,
Thin, Light and Wise. Now this approach involves
starting from scratch in engineering, signified by a new
H Mark logo exclusive to Honda's new generation EVs.
The company aims to redefine EV design, focusing on more
streamline, inefficient models than what they have right now.
The specifics of how Honda will achieve this innovative
lightweight design in their new EV series remains undisclosed.
Only Honda knows about it, and the current USEV market is
dominated by large SUVs and trucks.
But how does initiative suggest a different direction,
emphasizing smaller, lighter vehicles?
Additionally, Honda collaborates with Sony on the Afila electric
car set to enter the North American market by 2026.
However, the connection between the Afila and Honda 0 series is
not quite clear right yet. The saloon features a sporty,
low riding design inspired by Formula One racing, with a
minimalistic interior and unique lighting fixtures, and the space
hub is building a futuristic minivan includes features like a
panoramic moonroof and interior design suitable for autonomous
shuttle services. It's designed focuses on space
efficiency with no rear window at all, indicating a reliance on
cameras for rear visibility. Honda also suggests that these
vehicles will have partial to full autonomous capabilities.
Honda's advanced driver assist features based on the sensing
platform will be a crucial component of the Honda 0 series.
First introduced with the Honda Legend in Japan, the Level 2
system requires driver attention but will offer hands free
driving in certain conditions starting in the mid twenty 20s.
The company emphasizes sportiness in the Honda 0
series, drawing from its Formula One experience to enhance
performance, and Honda also focuses on battery efficiency,
employing E axles to optimize energy conversion.
Now Honda plans to integrate AI powered features in these
vehicles, aiming for a personalized driving experience,
and these features will adjust to driver preferences and
provide route suggestions. Demonstrating Honda's commitment
to advanced technology integration and how does global
EV presence has been kind of limited so far with models like
the Honda E City car and the upcoming Pro Log SUV.
The company targets 30 new E VS by 20-30, aiming for 2 million
units sold in a commitment to 0 emission auto sales by 2040.
However, how does face challenges such as the recent
cancellation of a project with General Motors for affordable
EVs and setbacks in autonomous vehicle development due to an
incident involving crews. GMs autonomous unit of the
upcoming Prologue SUV marks Honda's renewed effort in the
North American EV market. Differing in design and appeal
from the new Honda 0 series. Tusha Hero, Meebi Honda's global
CEO, has critiqued the current trend of heavier E VS,
emphasizing a return to Huda's roots in lightweight vehicle
design. Unveiled the 2024 CES, the Honda
Ciro series, including the Salon and the Space Hub, shows a new
EV platform and a design philosophy prioritizing interior
space and minimal mechanical component footprint.
These both of these vehicles feature a low wide exterior and
spacious interior supported by a high density battery for longer
range and the battery tech in these vehicles is designed for
longevity with a fast charging capability and a promise of
retaining a high percentage of capacity.
Over a decade now, Honda Sensing Elite with advanced AI and
driver monitoring systems will offer a high level of automated
drive in including hands free operation in various conditions
and the driving experience in the Honda 0 series is described
as sporty. Benefiting from Honda's
experience with Formula One, this aerodynamic design and
performance enhancing technologies contribute to this
driving dynamic. An in house developed operating
system for the Honda 0 series will use AI to learn different
drivers behaviors making driving more intuitive and responsive
for every single person. Now this technology will enhance
the overall driving experience by adapting to anyone's driving
habits. Now, even the iconic Honda logo
will see a redesign for the Honda 0 series, and it shows
that Honda's moving into a new era for the company.
Now, while some futuristic features like gullwing doors
remain speculative, the unique designs of the saloon and space
hub have certainly garnered attention.
And Honda's launch of the Zero EV series marks a huge shift in
the company's approach to EVs, emphasizing lighter, more
efficient design. The series aims to offer a
unique blended performance technology and sustainability,
and in my opinion, Honda Zero will make a notable impact in
the EV market if they continue with the Honda 0 series and make
an affordable EV for everybody. NASA has recently announced some
schedule changes for its Artemis program, aiming to enhance the
long term scientific exploration of the Moon and prepare humans
for expeditions to the Red Planet of Mars, and this
involves SpaceX and their Starship program.
The adjustments involve the Artemis 2 and Artemis 3
missions, now slated for September 2025 and 2026
respectively, and Artemis 4, set for 2028 will be the first
mission to the Gateway Lunar Space Station.
This shift in planning reflects NASA's commitment to safety and
its approach to addressing challenges in first time
developments and operations. This is an experimental ship
that will be going to the moon. So the Artemis 2 mission, which
is the first crude lunar journey, now targets a September
2025 launch. Artemis 3, scheduled for the
following year, is planned to land astronauts near the lunar
South Pole. These revised dates or response
to the need for extra time to address challenges and ensure
the safety of astronauts, particularly given the
complexity of these missions. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
emphasized the agency's dedication to astronaut safety
and the success during this mission.
He said the commercial and international partnerships in
advancing humans understanding of its place in the solar system
are paramount, and Nelson described Artemis as a symbol of
global collaboration in achievement.
Space exploration and the primary driver behind the
Artemis 2 schedule adjustment is ensuring cruise safety.
The mission will test the Orion spacecraft's environmental
control and life support systems, and recent tests to
qualify these components have revealed some issues needing
additional resolution time, including a battery problem and
challenges with a circuitry component responsible for air
ventilation and temperature control.
NASA is also investigating the unexpected loss of charred layer
pieces from Artemis 1 spacecraft heat shield.
Now Artemis one took a trip around the moon and came back
down to Earth, and the heat shield was kind of broken up on
its way back in. The investigation, expected to
conclude during the spring time of 2024, involves extensive
sampling, testing, and data review, and they've been testing
this since the Artemis 1 mission came back down to Earth all of
2023. This methodical approach aims to
fully understand the issue and prevent its recurrence and
future missions. Now there's a Artemis 3 timeline
update, too. It's designed to incorporate
lessons from Artemis One and two and address development
challenges faced by NASA's industry partners.
This approach, recognizing the increased complexity of each
crude mission, allows for additional testing and
refinement of new capabilities, particularly those being
developed by SpaceX and Axiom Space.
SpaceX is developing the Starship for the Human Landing
system in Axiom Space is developing the lunar space suit.
SpaceX is right on target for mid February for the third
launch of their Starship from Boca Chica Starbase, Texas.
Now, Catherine Corner, the associate administrator at NASA,
said. We're letting the hardware talk
to us so that crew safety drives our decision making.
She explained that each Artemis flight test is aimed at reducing
risks for future moon missions and resolving challenges
associated with first time capabilities and operations.
Alongside these mission updates, NASA is reviewing the schedule
for launching the Gateway Lunar Space Station's first integrated
elements. The review aims to provide more
development time and better aim this launch with Artemis 4 in
2028, ensuring A cohesive and efficient program progression.
Now, NASA has requested Artemis, Human Landing System Provider
SpaceX and also Blue Origin to apply knowledge gained in
developing their systems towards future variations.
These variations could potentially deliver large cargo
on later missions, expanding the scope and capabilities of the
Artemis program, which is already a pretty ambitious
program. Now the Deputy Associate
Administrator of Exploration Systems Development at NASA
emphasized the need for getting foundational systems right for
safe and successful long term exploration.
He reiterated the priority of crew safety in the Artemis
programs Moon to Mars exploration goals, and they will
continue working with the crew and the companies involved to
make this as safe as possible. NASA's leaders also stressed the
importance of timely delivery by all partners to maximize flight
objectives with available hardware, including SpaceX.
Regular Progress Assessments and integrated programmatic planning
are essential for the agency and its partners to achieve their
exploration goals, and the Artemis program shows that we
can move forward with space exploration.
They're aiming to explore more of the Moon than ever before,
and they seek to learn how to live and work in space and
prepare for future human exploration on the Red Planet of
Mars. NASA's foundation for Deep
Spakes exploration includes the Space Launch System, Rocket
Exploration Ground Systems, Orion spacecraft, the Starship
Human Landing System, Next Generation Space Suits, Gateway,
Lunar Space Station, and Rovers for the moon as well.
And these components are all integral to the Artemis
program's success in the agency's broader space
exploration objectives to get people out into the solar
system. And the recent schedule
revisions in NASA's program highlight the agency's focus on
overcoming technical challenges and ensuring the mission's
successes. This pragmatic approach is
essential for establishing A sustainable and secure framework
for space exploration, setting the stage for more complex
future missions. These changes mark a crucial
step in advancing human presence on the Moon and eventually,
human exploration of Mars. Because of your continued
dedication to this podcast, I've been able to create the Elon
Musk Podcast on YouTube, and we will be doing our first live
stream this Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern on January 14th.
That's 2:00 PM Eastern January 14th on youtube.com/the Elon
Musk Podcast. Now we're going to be talking
about SpaceX, Tesla, everything, Elon Musk.
Also some ChatGPT, Open AI, some other AI news.
So please tune in this Sunday, 2:00 PM January 14th at
youtube.com/the Elon Musk Podcast.
Open AI recently announced the launch of its GPT store, which
is a platform that allows users to share custom chat bots, also
known as GPTS, and this store, which opens up new possibilities
for ChatGPT alone was initially slated for a November release,
but experienced several delays, finally becoming available in
January of 2024. Now, since the introduction of
the GPT Builder program in November, over 3 million custom
GPTS have been created. These GPTS cover various
applications and Open AI plans to feature outstanding examples
in the store weekly. The GPT store's opening marks a
significant expansion in open AIS ecosystem, offering more
than just the company's in house developments now.
The launch was postponed from November to December and then to
January, and the GPT store enables creators to publicly
showcase their custom chat bots, although currently only
subscribers to Open AIS paid tiers can create and use these
custom GPTS. In addition to the store, Open
AI is initiating a revenue sharing model for GPT creators
set to begin in the first quarter of the year.
Creators will earn based on user engagement, though the specifics
of the arrangements are yet to be disclosed, and Open AI has
implemented a new review system to ensure that all custom GP TS
adhere to its brand guidelines and usage policies.
The company has also streamlined the process of reporting GP TS
that users find harmful or unsafe.
The GPT Store is accessible to users of GPT Plus Enterprise and
a new subscription tier called Team.
This tier, aimed at smaller teams of up to 150 members,
includes access to GPT 4, Dolly Three, and advanced data
analysis features with a commitment to privacy and data
security chat. GPT Team is priced at $25 per
user monthly when billed annually and $30 per user for
monthly billing, and offers custom GPT creation for specific
team needs. This plan ensures that user data
and conversations are not utilized for model training
purposes. Now Open AI's recent venture
mirrors the concept of the Microsoft Store, providing A
centralized location for sharing and discovering a wide range of
custom GBT bots. The GBT Store features
categories like Dolly writing, research, programming,
education, and lifestyle promoting the visibility of
these custom creations. And the GPT store not only
offers a public platform for displaying custom GPTS, but also
aims to enhance their discoverability.
However, the creation and usage of these custom bots are limited
to subscribers of specific open AI plans, and the revenue
sharing program for GPT creators, primarily based on
user engagement, shows a new direction for open AI.
It offers creators a potential income stream for their
innovations, aligning with the broader trend of monetizing.
Digital creators Creations now ChatGPT team as part of this
initiative extends existing subscription benefits.
Of course, it uses Dolly 3 and GPT 4, and this shows that Open
AI is willing and open to provide advanced tools for
smaller teams. And admits these developments.
Open AI has openly acknowledged the necessity of using
copyrighted material in AI development.
The company recently submitted a statement to EU KS House of
Lords emphasizing that creating effective AI models like ChatGPT
would be impossible without such materials.
And Open AI submission highlights the extensive scope
of copyright law covering almost all forms of human expression.
The company argues that restricting training data to
public domain sources would severely limit the effectiveness
and relevance of modern AI systems.
This acknowledgement follows a lawsuit filed by the New York
Times against Open AI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorized
use of the newspaper's content. Open AI has responded,
dismissing the lawsuit as lacking of merit and reaffirming
its commitment to journalism and collaborative partnerships.
Now, Open AI Defense leans heavily on the principle of Fair
use, which allows limited use of copyrighted material without
explicit permission under specific conditions.
The company maintains that using publicly available Internet
materials for AI training falls under this principle.
Now, this isn't the first instance of Open AI citing fair
use in defense of its training methods.
In a previous copyright lawsuit involving comedian Sarah
Silverman, Open AI argued that the scope of copyright law
includes exceptions for innovation, suggesting that
their use of publicly available materials is a legitimate
practice under fair use. Now the GPT stores launch,
combined with the introduction of ChatGPT team, and Open AI
stance on copyright issues, shows that the company is moving
forward. It's a complex landscape of AI
development and also making money.
Open A is recent initiatives mark important steps in
expanding the reach and capabilities of AI tech.
The GPT Store and ChatGPT team offer new avenues for AI
application and creation, and also a little bit of money
there. And while the company's stance
on copyright usage underscores the intricate balance between
innovation and legal compliance, Hey, thank you so much for
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