Hi everybody and welcome back to another episode of the Elon Musk
Podcast where we discuss all things technology
entrepreneurship in the future of humanity.
According to insiders, Tesla has plans to double the D1 chip
orders for the coming year. Firstly, let's talk about the
Dojo D1 chips and what they are and why they're so important.
Tesla's D1 chips are application specific integrated circuits or
a six, specifically designed to enhance the capabilities of
Tesla's Dojo supercomputer. Now this machine is expected to
play a critical role in the training of Tesla's driver
assisted systems and their self driving AI models.
And the main advantage here is that Tesla can more efficiently
analyze extensive video data from its vast vehicle fleet,
negating the need for manual human input.
This also represents a significant stride toward
Tesla's aspirations for full self driving technology as well
as other initiatives like dedicated robo taxis and
optimist robots. As Tesla rolls out more a I
dependent projects, the Dojo D1 chip becomes an increasingly
central component to the company's technological
infrastructure and the Dojo supercomputer has the potential
to advance not only Tesla's automotive applications, but
could also be integrated into other autonomous systems in the
future. Now moving on to the business of
this report suggests that Tesla will be ordering 10,000 units of
the Dojo D1 chip from TSMC for the upcoming year.
This is not just good news for Tesla, but also positive
development for TSMC, which has seen an increase in its high
performance computing or HPC related orders, partially fueled
by Tesla's orders. And the dynamics between Tesla
and TSMC are becoming increasingly symbiotic,
benefiting both companies and pushing the envelope in
supercomputing and AI. Now firstly, we need to
understand the implications of Tesla shift away from NVIDIA.
For years, Nvidia's powerful GPUs have been the workforce for
many companies in the tech industry, Tesla included.
Nvidia's technology has been particularly critical in Tesla's
development of machine learning algorithms for autonomous
vehicles, and the strategic decision to ramp up the
production of Dojo D1 chips marks a turning point for Tesla,
allowing the company to have more control over its own
destiny. And the Dojo D1 chips are not
just a piece of hardware, they represent Tesla's determination
to control its own intellectual property and their own
resources. Now let's talk about the supply
chain. Here in the global semiconductor
market, supply constraints have become a significant concern for
tech companies in the recent chip shortages have demonstrated
the vulnerabilities and relying too heavily on 3rd party
vendors. By investing in its own chips,
Tesla is essentially laying the foundation for a more resilient
and adaptable supply chain. This in house production
capability gives Tesla an edge, enabling faster integrations of
its technology and potentially leading to a quicker rollout of
full self driving capabilities. Now on the future projection
side, Tesla has ambitious plans for the Dojo supercomputer which
serves as the brain Center for their Dojo D1 chips.
According to various reports, the next Gen.
Dojo system is expected to be operational by 2024 with a
target achieving 100 exaflops of compute power.
This would not only make Dojo one of the most powerful
supercomputers on the planet, but also give Tesla the
computational capabilities required for sophisticated
machine learning algorithms and data analysis.
Now with a more powerful Dojo, Tesla's rate of innovation could
accelerate, impacting everything from autonomous vehicles to
smarter energy solutions. Now the financial implications
should not be overlooked either. This price tag associated with
NVIDIA H100GP U's was reported to be around 300,000,000 for the
setup that Tesla was considering.
Now producing the Dojo D1 chips in house, despite the initial
research and development costs, could end up being a more
costeffective solution for Tesla in the long run.
In addition, having a proprietary chipset could become
a new revenue stream for Tesla as they could eventually license
this technology to other companies and sectors like
robotics, healthcare, or even in aerospace.
Now let's not forget that the Dojo supercomputer isn't
exclusively for autonomous driving applications.
Test the signals that the Dojo capabilities could be leveraged
in other areas like robotics and different kinds of autonomous
systems. Tesla's hardware 4.0 self
driving computer, another collaborative between test and
TSMC, has been a significant component in the development of
autonomous technology. And with such diverse
applications, Dojo's future could very well make it a
standard tool in the computational universe, applied
in various sectors, requiring immense computational power and
machine learning capabilities. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has even
disclosed plans to invest over $1 billion in the Dojo project
by the end of 2024, underlining its critical role in Tesla's
future and potentially the future of a I and robotics.
Now, we can't have an Elon Musk podcast episode without touching
on a little bit of controversy. Tesla is currently under federal
investigation for allegedly misappropriating company funds
to build a new mansion for Elon Musk.
And while this is indeed a critical issue that could affect
Tesla's public image and even stock prices, it's essential to
remember that this is still under investigation and nothing
has been proven yet. Regardless of these challenges,
the momentum behind Tesla's technological advancements like
Dojo and the D1 chips doesn't seem to be slowing down.
If anything, the accelerated investments indicate an
unshakable belief in the company's vision into the future
of autonomous systems and AI. SpaceX is Starship rocket and
the preparations for its next orbital flight.
Now, some of you may already be aware that SpaceX is waiting for
the Fish and Wildlife Service of the FWS to give them the green
light for the next launchpad. Now, simultaneously, the company
has filed an application with the FCC for communication
permissions during the upcoming Starship test flight expected to
commence this coming January. Possibly now, these bureaucratic
steps are routine for SpaceX, but what's really intriguing
here are the technological leaps, including several
upgrades this next test is slated to showcase.
So in today's episode, we'll be talking you through the
specifics of the imminent Starship test flight, including
major changes to the Rockets design and how these upgrades
aim to help this behemoth, the largest and most powerful rocket
to date, reach orbit successfully.
Now the stakes couldn't be higher.
Starship is expected to be the vessel that helps humanity set
foot on Mars and return to our nearest neighbor, the moon.
Now, first on the list of big modification is something that's
an engineering marvel, the concept of hot staging.
Traditionally, rockets execute a stage separation by halting the
main engines on the booster and before the second stage even
fires up. And however, SpaceX plans to
keep Starships engines ignited while it's still essentially
attached to the booster, which we refer to as the Super Heavy.
Now, a former SpaceX mission director speculates this will
give the rocket a payload increase of about 10%, and to
facilitate this, SpaceX has integrated vents and heavy duty
heat Shields at the top of the Super heavy booster.
This ensures that the flames can escape, preventing the rocket
from blowing up mid flight. The method is a bit riskier
since the booster could potentially be damaged, but
sometimes risk is synonymous with advancement.
Now let's pivot for a moment to talk about another angle of the
upcoming Starship test, the focus nature of the FCC
application that SpaceX recently filed.
Unlike other filings, this one is narrower in scope,
specifically seeking approval for communication channels
between the Starship booster and the launch site.
The absence of other elements like the full Starship vehicle
in the application raises some interesting questions.
Could this suggest a series of test runs focusing predominantly
on the booster and the paperwork could hint at SpaceX adopting a
step by step approach, perhaps focusing initial tests at the
first stage before proceeding to comprehensive trials involving
the entire rocket system. This would allow SpaceX to
ensure that each component of this complex machine is in top
shape before the actual orbital flight takes place.
Now, the third major change we're discussing today is the
engines. As we all know, the Raptor
engine is fundamentally more complex than the Merlin engines
that power the Falcon 9. This complexity makes the engine
more susceptible to leaks and therefore SpaceX has taken
significant steps to improve the valves and seals on the Raptor
engines and have seeing the fire suppression systems to manage
any potential accidents and make them more efficient.
Now, with 33 Raptor engines powering the first stage
booster, we're talking about an incredible level of engineering
intricacy. The effort to ensure each of
these engines operates optimally is crucial not just for the
success of the mission, but also for the longterm goals that
Starship aims to achieve, including the colonization of
Mars and renewed lunar missions with the Artemis program with
NASA, Let's talk about the visual spectacle this Starship
presents. It's not just the world's
largest rocket, but also the one with the most engines on a first
stage booster. When these 33 engines light up
for a flight again, it's a sight to behold, unrivaled by any
current or in development rockets.
Additionally, a hot staging ring will be added to the top of the
first stage booster, ensuring the stage separation as a
success, and this will address the primary failure point of the
last Test in April. And with these numerous
upgrades, we're clearly marching toward a future where space
travel isn't just a feat of engineering, but also a
mesmerizing spectacle. The 2nd Starship test flight
promises not just to correct past mistakes, but to push the
envelope on what is possible in rocket design and engineering.
Tesla's latest move to make electric vehicle charging more
accessible for everyone, not just Tesla owners, but owners of
all electric cars. Over the last couple of years,
Tesla has been slowly opening up its Supercharger network to non
Tesla vehicles, especially in Europe.
But the real news is what's happening stateside.
In North America, Tesla has faced some challenges with
compatibility issues, largely due to the unique connector that
Tesla uses for charging. And unlike in Europe where
standard connectors are widely in use, Tesla's proprietary
connector here became a potential obstacle for non Tesla
EV users. However, last year Tesla decided
to open up its connector to other manufacturers, a move that
started a transition in the industry.
So let's dig into this. We'll be discussing the
significance of Tesla's Magic Dock Superchargers, how it's
making the Supercharger network more inclusive, and the long
term strategy behind all of this.
We'll also talk about some of the recent developments around
EV charging infrastructure in Britain and how various
automakers are looking at tapping into the Tesla
Supercharger network now. Earlier this year, Tesla
introduced a novel piece of tech called the Magic Dock.
This is essentially a new receiver for the Tesla Charging
connector at Supercharger stations.
The Magic Dock allows for flexibility.
It can disconnect from the charger to act as an adapter
between Tesla's connector, known as the NACS, and the CSS
connector used by other electric vehicles.
Now in February, Tesla started the installation of Magic Docks
at Supercharger stations in New York and California as a pilot
project, though further expansion of the Superchargers
was halted for some time, likely due to the transition to the
NECS standard. Tesla recently resumed this
expansion by installing new stations in Texas.
Now Tesla has gone even further. They've extended its Magic Dock
superchargers into Utah, Colorado, Michigan, and
Washington State, and the expansion is still in the early
stages. But it's clear that Tesla is
investing in this technology as a bridge until direct
integration becomes widespread in 2025.
Now, while Tesla has been progressing with its
Supercharger network in North America, let's not forget about
its European endeavors. In Europe, Tesla has already set
up hundreds of stations and the integration with non Tesla
vehicles has been smoother there due to the already standardized
connectors. In the UK, charging
infrastructure is also growing at a very impressive rate.
For instance, Ubertricity, a shellowned charging network,
recently announced the installation of 1050 St. side
public EV chargers. These charges will be part of
the company's innovative lamppost charging project,
showing that charging infrastructure is becoming more
commonplace and versatile. Now, moving away from Tesla,
just for a second, let's talk about how other automakers are
responding to this trend. Jaguar has become the latest
brand to announce its plans to integrate Tesla and ACS into its
electric vehicles. They're following in the
footsteps of other big names like Ford, GM, Honda, and more.
And these companies are not only planning to adopt any CS in
future models, but are also considering providing adapters
for existing models. While it's still uncertain when
exactly these adapters will become available, given the
logistics involved, the commitment by these automakers
to adopt the Tesla standard signifies A monumental shift in
the industry. And Tesla set the stage.
And now the world's adapting to them.
And the company sold 325,291 vehicles in the United States in
the first half of 2023 alone. That's outpacing its next 19
competitors by a ratio of 10 to one or more.
And as the EV market continues to grow, Tesla remains the
dominant force. But other brands are slowly
increasing their share as well, and the demand for electric
vehicles and charging infrastructure is growing.
But so were the challenges. Companies are investing billions
into new EV and battery plants, but whether the market can
sustain all this new capability remains to be seen.
For instance, Ford recently decided to pause work about a
$3.5 billion electric vehicle plant in Michigan, raising
questions about the pace of EV adoption.
And as Tesla gears up to start deliveries of the much
anticipated cyber truck vehicle, new information about a
performance version has come to light.
Elon Musk himself took to social media to reveal that he recently
drove a performance cyber truck that is sure to exceed
expectation. Now the cyber trucks first
unveiled in 2019, it's undergone significant modifications since
its prototype dates. In a market that has witnessed
profound shifts, Tesla has not been shy about tweaking its
designs to adapt. Although Tesla initially laid
out specs and pricing for the cyber truck, those could very
well change considering the automaker's penchant for making
updates to its vehicles even after they've been unveiled.
Now this leaves us with many questions about the cyber Trucks
features, release timelines, and most critically, its pricing
structure. Now, Cybertruck is no longer
just a concept, it's a tangible machine, and the company has
produced hundreds of these electric pickups labeled as
release candidates or beta builds.
But details have been very scarce, while preproduction
models have been spotted on the roads, providing the world with
its first real look at Tesla's latest creation.
These aren't the final versions. Photographs of the trucks bed in
particular indicate some interesting design choices that
set it apart from traditional pickups.
Now, in the midst of the suspense, Elon Musk tweeted that
he just drove a quote Performance Cyber Truck, a
phrase that naturally triggers A flurry of speculation.
Tesla had previously announced a Tri motor version with rather
impressive specs 500 plus miles of range, zero to 60 and 2.9
seconds, and a starting price of $69,900.
Now the revelation of a performance version hints that
there could be multiple iterations of the Cyber Truck,
possibly even a quad motor version with even greater
capabilities. Though Elon Musk's tweet was
characteristically brief, it opens a new chapter in the Cyber
Truck saga. If a performance version exists,
Musk found it noteworthy enough to mention, and it's reasonable
to assume that this variant could be among the first to roll
off the production lines. And the term performance often
correlates with higher speeds, better handling, and generally
enhanced capabilities, which could position this version as a
high end offering within the cyber truck lineup.
Now the electric pickup truck market is getting crowded with
entrants like Rivians, R1T and the GMC Hummer EV and Ford's
options, and the Cyber Truck aims to distinguish itself
through its unconventional design and superior bed length.
Measuring at 6.5 feet longer than any other electric pickup
currently on the market, this offers utility that other
electric pickups simply can't match.
Additionally, Tesla may include a midgate feature similar to the
Chevy Silverado EV, according to visitors who attended Tesla
Cyber Rodeo event in April of 2022, features like these can
make the Cyber Truck not only a performance powerhouse, but also
a highly versatile vehicle. Thus, Tesla's electric pickup is
not merely seeking to join the ranks of existing electric
vehicles, but aims to redefine the category altogether.
Now, photos of the cybertruck taken by a Facebook user reveal
a bed floor panel with bolt holes, likely a space for a full
size spare tire, and sloped bedsides.
These design elements have generated mixed reactions.
The slope size, for example, could limit the width of loads
and potentially stress the bed walls.
However, Tesla could turn these limitations into unique features
such as additional storage compartments, and the
photographs also show that the tailgate reaches armpit height,
indicating that loading could be a challenge.
While Tesla has suggested that the rear suspension will dip for
easier loading and unloading, the design still raises
questions about accessibility. However, Tesla has never been
one to shy away from bold design choices.
It's likely the final production version will include innovative
solutions to these challenges now, with Tesla expected to
announce all the details in an upcoming event.
The final specs and features of the Cyber Truck, including its
performance version, are just weeks away from being officially
revealed. Given that the company is 2
years behind its original schedule, anticipation is
running really high. Tesla's delivery event will
answer lingering questions, confirm rumors, and give
prospective buyers a comprehensive look.
With the automaker has been laboring on behind closed doors,
we'll be discussing an essential milestone that SpaceX recently
achieved, securing its first ever contract with the US Space
Force for satellite communications via Star Shield.
The contract was officially confirmed on September 1st,
according to Air Force spokesperson and Stefanik, and
we'll discuss how Star Shield operates over the existing
Starlink satellites and serves as a secured network exclusively
for governmental agencies. The deal has a budget ceiling of
$70 million and will support various arms of the US military
like the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
And what makes this even more interesting?
Is that the contract comes on the heels of Spacex's role in
the Eukaryan conflict, where it provided Internet connectivity
to the Ukrainian military. The Star Shield contract marks a
significant moment for SpaceX as it diversifies its service
offerings and the Star Shield network, designed for
governmental entities, will operate over the existing
infrastructure of the current Starling satellites.
Now to put it into perspective, SpaceX will provide what's
called endtoend service through this contract, and this
comprehensive package includes everything from user terminals
and ancillary equipment to network management and various
other services. And the US Air Force
representative confirmed that the contract lasts for one whole
year with the possibility of extensions in the future.
With his contract financial framework, $15 million has
already been earmarked for SpaceX to be obligated by the
end of September. We have to consider that this is
not an isolated instance of Spacex's involvement with
defense, and previously SpaceX had one other contracts and the
Pentagon has already even categorized as a high value
buyer for SpaceX. And SpaceX has crafted 2
separate but interlinked satellite communication systems,
Starlink for civilians and Star Shield for government.
And while both operate over the same Starlink satellite network,
they serve completely different purposes and completely
different clientele. Elon Musk clarified on the
platform formerly known as Twitter that Star Shield will be
under the US government's ownership and controlled by the
Department of Defense Space Force.
The civilian Star Link network will remain independent and
won't participate in combat operations.
Now what this bifurcation allows is a dual use system where they
can serve different sectors without compromising on the
quality or security of services provided.
Now, this new US contract for the US Space Force certainly
isn't Spacex's first dance with the defense sector.
The Pentacontin has relied on SpaceX for a number of rocket
launches, indicating a level of trust and satisfaction with the
services that they provide. And the work with the Department
of Defense and other military branches by SpaceX showcases the
versatility and adaptability of these technologies.
And the very nature of these contracts often necessitates
strict requirements for reliability, security, and
efficiency. Aspects where SpaceX has
repeatedly proven its mettle would be an oversight to discuss
the contract without acknowledging Spacex's role in
the ongoing Ukraine conflict. And SpaceX has been providing
Internet connectivity to Ukraine's military, aiding their
fight against invading Russian forces from the beginning.
The decision was not without his complications, though.
Last year, SpaceX made the choice not to extend Starling
coverage to Russian occupied Crimea, a move that some say had
a significant impact on Ukraine's military operations.
And these actions have garnered attention even from policy
officials, highlighting the geopolitical influence of SpaceX
and its technologies. Wheel Now, Spacex's involvement
in global conflicts and now its contract with the US Space Force
have led to a more nuanced role for the company and in world
affairs. And while Elon Musk doesn't hold
any official diplomatic titles, the influence of Spacex's
technologies, particularly in communications, it's something
that can't be easily dismissed. Should be mentioned that earlier
in June that the Pentagon had already signed another contract
with SpaceX to provide satellite connectivity for Ukraine's
military. And as we move forward, they'll
be crucial to manage this new found influence responsibility
and ensure that the technologies are used for the betterment of
society and global stability. Now let's move on to Jeff
Bezos's rocket company. Completely separate topic, but
still in the realm of space. The recent FAA closure of the
investigation into Blue Origin, the New Shepherd rocket mishap
that took place on September 12th of 2022 of the unmanned
rocket faced A catastrophic engine failure, resulting in the
booster being destroyed in the capsule deploying its emergency
escape system. And according to the FAA, the
issue stemmed from a structural failure of an engine nozzle
brought about by higher than expected engine operating
temperatures, and this problem led to an unintended alteration
in the Rockets trajectory about a minute after its liftoff from
Blue Origins West, TX launch site.
However, the capsule which was carrying scientific payloads,
executed its emergency escape system and landed safely.
The FAA investigation concluded with 21 corrective measures the
Blue Origin is mandated to implement, including an engine
and nozzle component redesign. Blue Origin, though currently
grounded, indicated in the social media statement that
flights would resume shortly. Blue Origin, which was founded
by Jeff Bezos, had been successfully operating
suborbital flights since the summer of 2021, and in that
period New Shepherd launched 6 crude flights transporting a
total of 31 people with some notable passengers including
William Shatner and Michael Strahan.
So it's safe to see that the New Shepherd program was an integral
part of Blue Origins overall enterprise, constituting A
considerable chunk of the revenue and public reputation.
Now the FA A's decision to grab the New Shepherd program
temporarily has had a palpable effect on Blue Origins business
plans. For company that had ambitions
to send customers on 10 to 12 minutes suborbital flights, the
hiatus comes as a significant setback, especially with the
booming interest in space tourism.
And on the other front, Blue Origin recently announced a
change in leadership, CEO Bob Smith stepping down to be
succeeded by former Amazon executive Dave Limp.
Now this transition is likely to be pivotal as the company looks
to steer through the challenges brought on by the recent mishap.
Blue Origin is not alone in the commercial Space Flight area
though. The principal competitor, Virgin
Galactic, also had to go through the FAA investigation post
Richard Branson space trip leading to a two year pause in
their operations and Virgin Galactic resume flights with
their first paying customers in May of 2023 and it's currently
preparing for their Galactic 04 mission.
Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are looking to capture a
significant share of the space tourism market, with ticket
prices ranging from $250,000 initially around 450,000
currently for Virgin Galactic. With a waiting list of more than
800 people, the demand for such experiences is definitely
apparent. Interestingly, both companies
have customers who have also shown interest in their
competitors. For example, Sharon and Mark
Hagel from Winter Park, FL had flown with Blue Origin in March
2022 and are on the waiting list for Virgin Galactic.
The second trip with Blue Origin is on hold, pending FA A's final
nod for New Shepherd's return to Flight.
And while space tourism is a noteworthy segment of Blue
Origins plans, it is far from being their only focus.
The company has ambitious projects that include the launch
of its new Glen heavy lift rocket from Cape Canaveral, FL,
a lunar Lander for NASA's artivist missions, and a
commercial space station named Orbital Reef, And for Blue
Origin, the Fe A's decision to close the investigation may mark
a turning point. The company is required to
adhere strictly to 21 corrective measures outlined by the FAA,
some of which may necessitate significant engineering efforts.
The timely implementation of these measures is critical,
especially with these ambitious projects waiting in the wings,
and the FA A's final report, though not publicly available
due to proprietary and US export control reasons, states that
public safety was not compromised during the mishap.
The FAA also clarified that the investigations closer does not
indicate an immediate presumption of the New Shepherd
launches. Blue Origin needs to implement
all corrective actions that impact public safety and receive
a license modification from the FAA prior to their next launch.
Regulations are an essential aspect of any burgeoning
industry, and the commercial space sector is no exception.
What transpired with Blue Origin can serve as an instructive
episode for other companies in the industry.
Underscoring the significance of safety measures and regulatory
compliance. We're covering a story that's
been gaining a lot of attention. Linda Yacarino, the new CEO of
X, the social media and platform formerly known as Twitter, is
gearing up to meet with seven banks that finance Elon Musk's
acquisition of the company. Now Yakorino, who took to the
CEO seat in June, plans to discuss her strategy for
reviving the platform's financial health with executives
from Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Barclays, MUF GB NP and
Mizuho and Societ Generale on October 5th.
Now this meeting is crucial to Yakorino.
She aims to instill confidence and access bankers that she can
breathe new life into the social media platform, which was faced
with declining revenues and a myriad of other challenges.
The bankers who hold about $13 billion in debt related to the
acquisition, are eager to hear how Yacorino plans to attract
advertisers back to the platform and possibly diversify into
subscriptions and payments in the future.
Just a few days ago, Jacarino faced some tough questions at
the Code Conference, particularly about user metrics
and the platform's business model.
Her performance at the conference left some people
skeptical about the direction of which X is headed.
The new CEO has also been questioned about her
relationship with Elon Musk and how his influence might impact
the platform, especially in the context of attracting
advertisers. Now.
Yacorino did mention that the company is close to breaking
even from an operational cash flow standpoint and expects to
turn a profit by early of 2024. The statement, alongside the
revelation that X currently has 245,000,000 daily active users,
provided some level of assurance, but questions still
linger now among the banks. This is apprehensive.
They have been shouldering the $13 billion debt tied to X's
acquisition for almost a year now.
They also had to reject offers to buy some of the senior debt
at a significant discount, opting instead to hold on to it
in hopes that the company's fortunes would improve.
And a significant issue Yacorino faces is the decline in the
platform's advertising revenue, which dropped 60% since the
takeover. And some of this decline is
rooted in broader economic worries.
But a chunk can also be attributed to Musk's less
traditional approach to running the platform, including relaxing
moderation policies. Although Musk himself
acknowledged the drop in revenues, he noted that the
platform was still covering its initial costs of around $1.5
billion a year even before the takeover.
Twitter, now X, was facing difficulties in maintaining
advertising revenues, and big name companies had started
pulling out their advertising budgets, partly due to fears of
an impending recession, but also because of concerns about Musk's
handling of the platform. Despite these setbacks, Yacorino
has pointed out some positive trends.
In a recent interview, she revealed that 90% of the
platform's top 100 global spenders have resumed
advertising on X. However, the exact amounts
they're spending remain undisclosed.
One of the most intriguing dynamics is the relationship
between Yacorino and Elon Musk. During interviews, Yacorino was
asked whether Musk consults with her on major decisions like
potentially moving the platform to a subscription model.
While she didn't give a straightforward answer, she
emphasized her broader role in running the company.
Yacorino has a background of advertising and was formerly the
head of advertising sales at NBC Universal.
Her expertise in this area could be vital in drawing advertisers
back to the platform, but her vision appears to extend beyond
just advertising revenue. She's also made it clear that
she's not just there to head the advertising department, but to
held the entire organization. And in this complex interplay
must continues to have a strong influence, especially in the
product side of things. This isn't necessarily seen as a
drawback, given Musk's known proficiency and technological
ovation. Now, as Linda Yakirino prepares
for this critical meeting, she's juggling several balls at once.
Not only is she dealing with operational challenges, but
she's also navigating the waters of public opinion and grappling
with the responsibility of reassuring nervous bankers.
And at the same time, she's working closely with one of the
most prominent and unpredictable tech entrepreneurs over time,
Elon Musk. There are also other matters to
attend to, such as allegations of inadequate actions against
hate speech and disinformation. Yacorino has defended X's new
direction, emphasizing its commitment to free expression,
but the jury is allowed on how this will play out in the long
run. Allies are on the upcoming
meeting, which has the potential to define the future of X and by
extension, impact the fortunes of the seven banks involved and
possibly reshape the social media ecosystem.
Now let's shift our focus to a topic that's been picking up
steam in the recent years, namely the role of commercial
satellites in military operations and the implications
for national security. Just last week, General Chant
Saltzman, who is a high ranked official in the US Space Force,
spoke at a conference in Hawaii. His remarks have added a new
layer to the ongoing conversations about the
responsibility of the military and safeguarding commercial
assets in space like Starlink. Now, the focal point here is the
increased dependence of the US military on commercial networks
for tests like communication and surveillance.
And General Saltzman's comments not only reiterated the rising
threats from nations like China and Russia, but also explicitly
address the role of the military in defending commercial
satellites. To give a concrete example, the
hypothetical situation was posed about how the US military would
act if Russia targeted SpaceX is Starlink broadband Network, a
commercial satellite system, has been used for Internet
connectivity by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Now, the situation surrounding the military's role in
protecting commercial assets in space is both complex and
nuanced. While General Saltzman did not
directly respond to the hypothetical situation
concerning an attack on Spacex's Starlink network, he did make it
clear that the US military sees a role for itself in
safeguarding commercial activities in space.
His argument extends a well established philosophy of U.S.
policy to protect vital assets. Saltman compared space to sea
lanes and civilian airliner traffic, highlighting that the
same protective principles could apply in the extraterrestrial
domain. And to implement this kind of
defense, operations would likely be channeled through the US
Space Command, an entity district from the Space Force.
Now, Space Command's purpose is to provide combatant commands
with the resources and technology required for the
missions, led by the US Army General James Dickinson, who
interestingly did not give a clear cut answer to a similar
query regarding the defense of commercial satellites.
According to Saltzman, the responsibility of deciding which
commercial assets to protect ultimately falls under the
purview of Space Command and higher level civilian
leadership. He spoke of the need for setting
priorities, suggesting that there could be limitations on
the extent to which the military can protect commercial
satellites. Such limitations would likely be
determined by capacity, strategy and the value of the assets
involved. Last October, Russia weighed in
on the subject. A deputy director in Russia's
Foreign Ministry flagged the use of Western commercial satellites
by Ukraine as a highly risky trend.
And while he did not need specific satellites, the
implication was that he was talking about Spacex's Starlink.
Now, this points to an international aspect of
commercial satellites becoming potentially military targets.
Similarly, Tara Brown, an official in the Royal Air Force
and a professor at the US Naval War College who specializes in
space law, concluded that civilian satellites used for
wartime objectives could essentially be considered
military targets. The international community
seems to be inching toward a consensus that these commercial
assets, once used for military purposes, enter a new category
of vulnerability. As we venture further into this
era of increasing interdependence between
commercial and military operations in space, the points
made by General Saltzman bring essential questions into focus.
What are the limits of military involvement in protecting
commercial assets in space, and who gets to decide these limits?
And how will international laws adapt to these new challenges?
The dialogue surrounding the defense of commercial satellites
is still evolving, but it is undoubtedly a matter of critical
importance. We will continue to gain
attention from both military and civilian leadership.
This topic brings in a relief the necessity for an integrated
and well thought out approach to safeguarding what might become
some of the most valued assets of the 21st century.
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