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Elon Musk Weekly News Update: Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and More · Elon Musk Podcast

• 0:01
  Hey everybody, welcome back to the Elon Musk Podcast.
• 0:05
  This is a show where we discuss the critical Crossroads, The
• 0:08
  Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink.
• 0:13
  And I'm your host, Will Walden. Because of your continued
• 0:16
  dedication to this podcast, I've been able to create the Elon
• 0:20
  Musk Podcast on YouTube and we will be doing our first live
• 0:24
  stream this Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern on January 14th.
• 0:30
  That's 2:00 PM Eastern January 14th on youtube.com/the Elon
• 0:36
  Musk Podcast. Now we're going to be talking
• 0:38
  about SpaceX, Tesla, everything, Elon Musk.
• 0:41
  Also some ChatGPT Open AI some other AI news, so please TuneIn
• 0:48
  this Sunday 2:00 PM January 14th at youtube.com/the Elon Musk
• 0:53
  Podcast. Controversy surrounds Elon Musk,
• 0:56
  the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla over allegations of drug use,
• 1:00
  including incidents involving cocaine, LSD and ketamine.
• 1:05
  Now, these claims have raised concerns about Musk's well-being
• 1:08
  and the potential impact on his companies and their
• 1:11
  stakeholders. Musk, however, refutes these
• 1:13
  allegations, stating that three years of random drug testing by
• 1:17
  NASA found no evidence of drug or alcohol use.
• 1:20
  The situation gained traction after Musk smoked marijuana on
• 1:23
  the Joe Rogan podcast in 2018, and following this, NASA
• 1:27
  requested that Musk undergo random drug testing for three
• 1:31
  years, to which he agreed. According to Musk, these tests
• 1:34
  showed no traces of drugs or alcohol.
• 1:38
  Now this response comes amiss a Wall Street Journal report
• 1:41
  suggesting ongoing drug use and abuse by Musk, a claim he
• 1:46
  denies. A Musk's reaction to the WSG
• 1:49
  report was dismissive and critical, labeling the report as
• 1:52
  unworthy and using a poop emoji to express his disdain.
• 1:57
  Despite his rebuttals, stories and speculations about his drug
• 2:00
  use continue to surface. These include concerns expressed
• 2:03
  by Tesla board members and reports of erratic behavior
• 2:07
  attributed to drug influence, such as his tweet about taking
• 2:11
  Tesla private. Now, NASA's involvement
• 2:14
  escalated after Musk's appearance on Rogan's podcast,
• 2:17
  leading to a $5,000,000 probe into his drug use.
• 2:22
  This investigation aimed to ensure compliance with the drug
• 2:25
  free workplace requirements of Spacex's $14 billion government
• 2:30
  contracts. The results of this
• 2:32
  investigation, however, remain undisclosed.
• 2:36
  Representatives for Musk and his companies, including SpaceX,
• 2:39
  Tesla, and X, formerly Twitter, have not provided immediate
• 2:42
  responses to inquiries about these allegations.
• 2:45
  Musk himself has been relatively quiet on the issue, aside from
• 2:48
  his dismissive tweet following the WSG article.
• 2:52
  Now in defense of Musk, a post on X highlighted his compliance
• 2:56
  with NASA's drug testing request, and Musk emphasized
• 2:59
  that the test over three years found no trace of drugs or
• 3:03
  alcohol. His attorney, Alex Bureau, did
• 3:05
  not immediately respond to any requests from the Wall Street
• 3:08
  Journal report either. Now, the Wall Street Journal's
• 3:11
  reporting has stirred significant discussion, though,
• 3:13
  with claims of Musk's use of various drugs, including cocaine
• 3:17
  and ketamine. Now, despite these allegations,
• 3:19
  the Journal stands by its reporting.
• 3:21
  The situation has reportedly caused unease among senior
• 3:24
  figures of Musk's companies, with a Tesla board director even
• 3:28
  opting not to run for re election due to concern over
• 3:32
  Musk's alleged drug use. The Wall Street Journal report
• 3:36
  also suggested that SpaceX executives worried about Musk's
• 3:40
  state during a company meeting, hinting at possible drug
• 3:43
  influence. This incident, coupled with Musk
• 3:45
  controversial tweet about Tesla going private, has escalated
• 3:49
  concerns about his behavior and its potential impact on his
• 3:52
  companies. Musk's admission of using small
• 3:55
  doses of ketamine for depression and his infamous smoking
• 3:58
  incident on Rogan's podcast prompted NASA to investigate his
• 4:03
  drug use, and so far the results are unknown, and it was part of
• 4:09
  NASA's commitment to ensuring that the place was drug free.
• 4:12
  SpaceX was drug free. They're building rockets for the
• 4:15
  Artemis program. They have to be drug free and
• 4:18
  also they're sending people to the International Space Station
• 4:20
  and satellites with their Falcon 9 rockets.
• 4:23
  Now Musk has acknowledged SpaceX employees compliance with drug
• 4:27
  testing requirements following the Rogan incident.
• 4:30
  This adherence was crucial as SpaceX, being a NASA contractor,
• 4:34
  had to uphold laws pertaining to drug free workplaces.
• 4:38
  Musk's comments suggest his awareness of legal and
• 4:41
  contractual obligations related to drug use and NASA's
• 4:45
  investigation into Spacex's workplace safety, including drug
• 4:48
  use, was extensive. It covered multiple SpaceX
• 4:51
  facilities and involved interviews with a significant
• 4:54
  number of employees. Hundreds of employees, and
• 4:57
  despite the thorough nature of this probe, the results have
• 5:00
  been heavily redacted, with NASA citing confidentiality and
• 5:04
  competitive concerns. Now, a report for the Business
• 5:09
  Insider and their efforts to obtain details of the NASA probe
• 5:13
  face challenges, with initial responses from the agency
• 5:16
  indicating no records of the assessments Results.
• 5:19
  However, further insistence led to the release of some
• 5:22
  documents. Although heavily redacted, this
• 5:25
  has sparked further curiosity about the investigation's
• 5:28
  findings. Now, the probe scope included
• 5:31
  Spacex's commitment to safety and health practices,
• 5:34
  particularly in the context of transporting astronauts.
• 5:37
  The NASA letter initiated the review highlighted the
• 5:40
  importance of safety in the US space program and the need for
• 5:43
  compliance with industry standards and legal
• 5:46
  requirements. Despite the extensive nature and
• 5:48
  cost of the investigation, NASA has opted not to publicly
• 5:52
  release all the results, citing the proprietary nature of the
• 5:56
  information. This decision has left many
• 5:59
  questions unanswered regarding the findings of the probe in its
• 6:02
  implications for SpaceX and Elon Musk.
• 6:06
  Now, William Gerstenmeyer, the NASA administrator who requested
• 6:11
  the review, left the agency after the conclusion of the
• 6:14
  probe. He later joined SpaceX as the
• 6:17
  vice president of Build and flight reliability, a move that
• 6:20
  adds an interesting twist to the narrative surrounding this
• 6:23
  investigation And there's an ongoing controversy surrounding
• 6:27
  Elon Musk's drug use. And while Musk denies any
• 6:31
  wrongdoing, the context of the allegations and the involvement
• 6:34
  of organizations like NASA show that this issue remains an
• 6:38
  important and unresolved aspect of his public and professional
• 6:43
  life. Tesla competitor Ford Motor
• 6:46
  Company recently released their fourth quarter sales data,
• 6:50
  revealing a pretty big contrast here.
• 6:52
  And while they achieved a record in EV sales, the success is
• 6:57
  paired with significant short term financial losses.
• 7:00
  And in 2023, Ford's U.S. sales surged by 7.1%, reaching 2
• 7:06
  million vehicles sold. This increase was driven
• 7:09
  primarily by their popular F Series trucks, robust commercial
• 7:13
  vehicle sales and record setting performance in the EV sector.
• 7:18
  Now Ford's F series maintain his position as America's top
• 7:21
  selling truck for the 47th consecutive year in the best
• 7:24
  selling vehicle for the 42nd year.
• 7:27
  Now this dominance, partially attributed to competition
• 7:29
  between General Motors, Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, shows
• 7:34
  that Ford is enduring this now. For investors though, the
• 7:38
  noteworthy aspect lies in the success of Ford's EV versions of
• 7:42
  his flagship trucks. The F-150 Lightning emerged as
• 7:47
  the top selling electric truck while the F-150 Hybrid led the
• 7:51
  full size hybrid truck market. This shows Ford's ability to
• 7:54
  transition its gasoline powered truck dominance into the EV
• 7:59
  world. You know, so maybe they can
• 8:01
  dominate that eventually if cyber truck doesn't have
• 8:03
  anything to do with it. We're big fans of the Cyber
• 8:06
  Truck here, so I think Ford has a chance to continue on because
• 8:11
  let's just face it, the Cyber Truck isn't for everybody here.
• 8:15
  Now, Ford's EV sector, particularly in the fourth
• 8:18
  quarter of 2023 saw a significant uplift.
• 8:21
  The company sold nearly 26,000 EVs in this period, a 24%
• 8:25
  increase for the third quarter of this growth contributed to an
• 8:29
  18% rise in EV sales for the full year.
• 8:32
  The F-150 Lightning was a major contributor to this growth, with
• 8:36
  its sales up 74% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous
• 8:40
  year. Ford's Mustang Mach E and the E
• 8:43
  Transit also helped the company secure its position as America's
• 8:47
  second ranked EV brand in 2023. However, Ford's triumph in the
• 8:52
  EV market comes with the caveat. Despite record EV sales, the
• 8:56
  company is experiencing financial losses in its EV
• 9:00
  sector. Ford estimated its Model E unit,
• 9:03
  which focuses on E VS would incur losses of approximately
• 9:06
  $4.5 billion in 2023. Ford's management remains
• 9:12
  optimistic though anticipating a turn around in the Model E units
• 9:15
  profitability by the end of 2026.
• 9:18
  They show that the confidence is based on expected reductions in
• 9:22
  costs and an increase in production efficiency.
• 9:24
  The company views the current situation as a necessary phase
• 9:28
  towards long term profitability. And remember, Ford is only a few
• 9:33
  years into the EV game. Companies like Tesla have been
• 9:36
  in this for over a decade, so Ford has a lot of catch up to
• 9:40
  do, and they have a lot of learning to do as well.
• 9:43
  And Ford's strategy for achieving an 8% EBIT margin by
• 9:47
  2026 involves scaling production and sales, along with
• 9:51
  improvements in design, engineering and battery cost
• 9:54
  reductions. And these steps are seen as
• 9:56
  essential for enhancing Ford's financial performance in the
• 9:58
  coming years. Despite the challenges in the EV
• 10:01
  sector, there's plenty of them. Ford wants some growth, and they
• 10:05
  see growth in 2024, driven by its strong lineup of SUVs and
• 10:10
  trucks. The company plans to introduce
• 10:12
  new models across the F Series, Ranger, Explorer, Expedition and
• 10:16
  the Lincoln Ranges as well. The importance of continuous EV
• 10:20
  sales growth for Ford can't be overstated.
• 10:23
  Despite the current losses, sustained sales are crucial for
• 10:26
  the company to achieve profitability in the near future
• 10:29
  and into 2026 now. Investors considering Ford Motor
• 10:33
  Company stocks should weigh these developments very
• 10:36
  carefully, though. The company's performance in the
• 10:39
  EV market, despite its current losses, is a critical factor in
• 10:43
  evaluating its future prospects. Ford's a stable company, but you
• 10:48
  never know what's going to happen in the next few years
• 10:49
  that they can't get those costs down.
• 10:52
  In 2023, Ford's F series, including the F-150 Lightning
• 10:55
  and Super Duty trucks, recorded 750,789 deliveries in the US.
• 11:02
  This performance is critical in understanding Ford's market
• 11:05
  dynamics, especially when contrasting with General Motors.
• 11:08
  Combined sales of the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra
• 11:13
  Electric trucks growing segment in the market are also reshaping
• 11:17
  the competitive landscape. Ford's F-150 Lightning leads the
• 11:20
  category, while other manufacturers like General
• 11:22
  Motors and also Rivian are making notable strides.
• 11:26
  I'm also a fan of Rivian. So if you're a fan of Rivian,
• 11:28
  I'm right there with you. I love the headlights.
• 11:31
  They're cute. Hybrid trucks are another area
• 11:34
  where Ford holds strong position.
• 11:36
  F-150 Power Boost, Maverick Hybrid dominate their respective
• 11:39
  segments shows that Ford's capability in both full size and
• 11:42
  compact hybrid truck markets. Looking at the broad truck
• 11:46
  market though, the competitive landscape includes various
• 11:49
  players like Stalantis's Ram Series, Toyota's Tundra and
• 11:53
  Nissan's Titan. Each brand brings unique
• 11:56
  offerings to the table with Ford maintaining a strong presence
• 11:59
  amongst all of them. Now, Tesla's cyber truck is also
• 12:04
  a challenge to Ford. Despite its high initial
• 12:08
  interest, Tesla's production and delivery capabilities will be
• 12:11
  critical in determining its impact on the market.
• 12:14
  It's almost a niche product at this point.
• 12:18
  It is not traditional. Most truck owners that I've
• 12:23
  talked to, and this is a little personal side note, not quite
• 12:25
  news, but they're kind of on the fence with it.
• 12:29
  They think it looks neat, but they don't see the reason to
• 12:33
  have a neat looking truck when their truck already performs
• 12:35
  well. These are farmers and people
• 12:37
  that haul a lot of wood and things like that.
• 12:39
  So it might be a hard sell for the cyber truck to a a working
• 12:44
  class blue collar person. But the affordability of full
• 12:48
  size pickups remains a key factor for all these consumers.
• 12:52
  And as of now, the Ram 1500 Classic emerges as the most
• 12:55
  affordable option with Ford's F-150 and Chevy Silverado also
• 13:00
  competitively priced. Now, Ford's latest sales data
• 13:04
  presents a kind of a complex picture here. record-breaking EV
• 13:08
  sales signal a strong move towards electrification, but
• 13:11
  come with a substantial short term financial loss.
• 13:15
  The company's strategy and the future model releases suggest
• 13:18
  optimism for growth despite these current challenges.
• 13:22
  And as we continue to evolve and the auto industry continues to
• 13:25
  evolve, Ford will continue to evolve with it getting their
• 13:30
  costs down and producing more E VS in the future.
• 13:34
  Hertz rental cars or Hertz Global Holdings announced that
• 13:38
  it's planned to sell approximately 20,000 electric
• 13:42
  vehicles from its rental fleets. This is attributed to the
• 13:45
  escalating costs associated with collision and damage of these
• 13:49
  vehicles leaving the company to favor less expensive to fix gas
• 13:55
  powered alternatives. Now this announcement impacted
• 13:57
  the stock market with Hertz shares dropping around 4%.
• 14:01
  Tesla, a significant part of Hertz's EV fleet also saw its
• 14:05
  shares declined by about 3% at that time.
• 14:08
  The financial impact on Hertz is pretty substantial.
• 14:11
  The company anticipates a charge of roughly $245,000,000 in the
• 14:16
  fourth quarter of last year related to the deprecation
• 14:20
  expenses from the sale of these EVs and Hertz move highlights
• 14:24
  the challenging situation for EVs in the current market.
• 14:27
  Growth in EV sales has decelerated a little bit,
• 14:30
  prompting manufacturers like GM and Ford to reconsider their
• 14:34
  production strategies going forward.
• 14:36
  Now Adam Jonas and analysts and Morgan Stanley interprets Hertz
• 14:40
  decision as a cautionary sign for the burgeoning EV sector.
• 14:44
  Right now, he suggests a need to recalibrate market expectations
• 14:48
  for electric vehicles and also for rental fleets.
• 14:52
  Now Jonas points out that despite the appealing driving
• 14:55
  experience and fuel efficiency of EVs, ownership entails
• 14:59
  additional, often overlooked costs.
• 15:03
  Now Hertz. Previous commitments to electric
• 15:05
  vehicles included an order of 100,000 Tesla cars by the end of
• 15:09
  2022 and a subsequent agreement to purchase up to 65,000
• 15:13
  vehicles from Polestar over five years.
• 15:17
  And Hertz cited elevated, expensive linked to EV
• 15:20
  collisions and damages as a primary reason for this
• 15:23
  decision, as mentioned in the regulatory filing, Meanwhile,
• 15:27
  German car rental company 6th SIXT has also moved away from
• 15:31
  Tesla. They stopped purchasing Tesla
• 15:33
  vehicles since 2022 and are now selling off their Tesla fleet as
• 15:38
  part of the regular vehicle rotation.
• 15:40
  And despite divesting from Tesla, 6th remains committed to
• 15:44
  electrifying its fleet aiming to convert 70 to 90% of its
• 15:48
  European rental fleet to electric by 2030.
• 15:52
  Now Hertz, while reducing its EV inventory plans to continue
• 15:56
  enhancing the profitability in its remaining electric fleet.
• 16:01
  Now market trends indicated decline in used EV prices
• 16:04
  through most of 2023. This trend is expected to
• 16:07
  persist with used E VS projected to deprecate more than overall
• 16:12
  used vehicle market in 2024, according to Cox Automotive.
• 16:16
  Fun fact, I used to work for Cox Automotive for about two years
• 16:21
  and I love the experience there. Great company to work for great
• 16:24
  people. Carl Brewer, the IC Cars
• 16:29
  spokesman, notes that while 20,000 vehicles represent a
• 16:32
  small fraction of the used vehicle market, Hertz's sales
• 16:35
  will contribute to the ongoing trend of depreciating used EV
• 16:38
  values, resulting in significant losses for the company.
• 16:42
  Hertz is offering some of his Model 3 vehicles at nearly half
• 16:46
  their original purchase price, with listings as low as $20,000.
• 16:51
  So get on it if you're looking for an EV, More than likely you
• 16:55
  can get a Tesla for much cheaper than retail.
• 16:57
  Now this move comes as the company aimed for 25% of its
• 17:00
  fleet to be electrified by the end of 2024.
• 17:04
  Over 700 E VS, including models from BMW, Chevy, and Tesla, are
• 17:08
  listed for sale on Hertz's used Auto website.
• 17:12
  These sales provide an opportunity for consumers to
• 17:15
  acquire affordable electric vehicles like Model threes and
• 17:19
  Recurrent Auto suggests that Hertz test the model threes
• 17:22
  might qualify for a used EV tax rebate too, so you can save
• 17:26
  potentially more money now. This situation presents an
• 17:30
  attractive option for you if you're seeking affordable E VS
• 17:34
  despite concerns over the reliability and high mileage
• 17:37
  that other rental cars would have too.
• 17:40
  Personally, I know people that have bought their vehicles from
• 17:44
  rental agencies and they turned out to be OK.
• 17:47
  Nothing really wrong with them. It's kind of like buying a car
• 17:51
  from a regular person, but just a bunch of different people
• 17:55
  doing different sort of driving than say what I was told when I
• 17:59
  bought my Subaru, my last Subaru, that it was used by a
• 18:03
  grandma going from her house to the grocery store.
• 18:06
  So which I don't think that's actually true, but you know
• 18:09
  what? Burlington Subaru you got me.
• 18:12
  But that was a great car, 200,000 miles at that one.
• 18:15
  So they got me on that one. I'm not sure the models or the
• 18:19
  makes of the model threes or the actual serial numbers, but I'm
• 18:22
  sure they're in pretty good condition.
• 18:24
  So to go check them out, see if they're good for you.
• 18:26
  Now, comparisons with other marketplaces, though, like
• 18:29
  CarMax and Autotrader, show that Hertz's offerings are
• 18:31
  competitively priced. Consumer Reports rates the Model
• 18:34
  3's reliability as average, supporting the notion that
• 18:38
  Hertz's Tesla vehicles are pretty good values.
• 18:42
  Now, Hertz's decision to sell a substantial portion of its EV
• 18:45
  fleet shows a big shift in its business strategy, reflecting
• 18:49
  the current challenges and economic realities of the EV
• 18:52
  market. This move offers customers an
• 18:55
  opportunity to purchase EVs at lower prices with considerations
• 19:00
  regarding their condition and reliability.
• 19:03
  It might be right for you, so go check it out.
• 19:06
  Hertz Rental Cars or Hertz Global Holdings announced that
• 19:10
  it's planned to sell approximately 20,000 electric
• 19:14
  vehicles from its rental fleets. This is attributed to the
• 19:18
  escalating costs associated with collision and damage of these
• 19:21
  vehicles, leaving the company to favor less expensive to fix gas
• 19:27
  powered alternatives. Now this announcement impacted
• 19:30
  the stock market with Hertz shares dropping around 4%.
• 19:33
  Tesla, a significant part of Hertz's EV fleet also saw its
• 19:37
  shares decline by about 3% at that time.
• 19:40
  The financial impact on Hertz is pretty substantial.
• 19:43
  The company anticipates a charge of roughly $245,000,000 in the
• 19:48
  fourth quarter of last year related to the deprecation
• 19:52
  expenses from the sale of these EVs and Hertz move highlights
• 19:56
  the challenging situation for EVs in the current market.
• 19:59
  Growth in EV sales has decelerated a little bit,
• 20:02
  prompting manufacturers like GM and Ford to reconsider their
• 20:06
  production strategies going forward.
• 20:09
  Now, Adam Jonas and analysts and Morgan Stanley interprets Hertz
• 20:12
  decision as a cautionary sign for the burgeoning EV sector
• 20:16
  right now. He suggests a need to
• 20:18
  recalibrate market expectations for electric vehicles and also
• 20:23
  for rental fleets. Now.
• 20:24
  Jonas points out that despite the appealing driving experience
• 20:28
  and fuel efficiency of EVs, ownership entails additional,
• 20:32
  often overlooked costs. Now Hertz.
• 20:35
  Previous commitments to electric vehicles included an order of
• 20:39
  100,000 Tesla cars by the end of 2022 and a subsequent agreement
• 20:43
  to purchase up to 65,000 vehicles from Polestar over five
• 20:48
  years, and Hertz cited elevated, expensive linked to EV
• 20:52
  collisions and damages as a primary reason for this
• 20:55
  decision, as mentioned in the regulatory filing.
• 20:58
  Meanwhile, German car rental company 6th SIXT has also moved
• 21:03
  away from Tesla. They stopped purchasing Tesla
• 21:06
  vehicles since 2022 and are now selling off their Tesla fleet as
• 21:10
  part of the regular vehicle rotation.
• 21:12
  And despite divesting from Tesla 6th remains committed to
• 21:16
  electrifying its fleet, aiming to convert 70 to 90% of its
• 21:20
  European rental fleet to electric by 2030.
• 21:24
  Now Hertz, while reducing its EV inventory, plans to continue
• 21:28
  enhancing the profitability in its remaining electric fleet.
• 21:33
  Now market trends indicate a decline in used EV prices
• 21:36
  through most of 2023. This trend is expected to
• 21:39
  persist with used E VS projected to deprecate more than overall
• 21:44
  used vehicle market in 2024, according to Cox Automotive.
• 21:48
  Fun fact, I used to work for Cox Automotive for about two years
• 21:53
  and I love the experience there. Great company to work for great
• 21:57
  people. Carl Brewer, the IC Cars
• 22:01
  spokesman, notes that while 20,000 vehicles represent a
• 22:04
  small fraction of the used vehicle market, Hertz's sales
• 22:07
  will contribute to the ongoing trend of depreciating used EV
• 22:11
  values, resulting in significant losses for the company.
• 22:14
  Hertz is offering some of his Model 3 vehicles at nearly half
• 22:18
  their original purchase price, with listings as low as $20,000.
• 22:23
  So get on it if you're looking for an EV, More than likely you
• 22:27
  can get a Tesla for much cheaper than retail.
• 22:29
  Now this move comes as the company aimed for 25% of its
• 22:32
  fleet to be electrified by the end of 2024.
• 22:36
  Over 700 E VS, including models from BMW, Chevy, and Tesla, are
• 22:41
  listed for sale on Hertz's used Auto website.
• 22:44
  These sales provide an opportunity for consumers to
• 22:47
  acquire affordable electric vehicles like Model threes and
• 22:51
  Recurrent Auto suggests that Hertz test the model threes
• 22:54
  might qualify for a used EV tax rebate too, so you can save
• 22:58
  potentially more money now. This situation presents an
• 23:02
  attractive option for you if you're seeking affordable E VS
• 23:06
  despite concerns over the reliability and high mileage
• 23:09
  that other rental cars would have too.
• 23:12
  Personally, I know people that have bought their vehicles from
• 23:16
  rental agencies and they turned out to be OK.
• 23:19
  Nothing really wrong with them. It's kind of like buying a car
• 23:24
  from a regular person, but just a bunch of different people
• 23:27
  doing different sort of driving than say what I was told when I
• 23:31
  bought my Subaru, my last Subaru, that it was used by a
• 23:35
  grandma going from her house to the grocery store.
• 23:38
  So which I don't think that's actually true, but you know
• 23:42
  what? Burlington Subaru you got me.
• 23:44
  But that was a great car, 200,000 miles at that one.
• 23:47
  So they got me on that one. I'm not sure the models or the
• 23:51
  makes of the model threes or the actual serial numbers, but I'm
• 23:55
  sure they're in pretty good condition.
• 23:56
  So to go check them out, see if they're good for you.
• 23:58
  Now, comparisons with other marketplaces, though, like
• 24:01
  CarMax and Autotrader, show that Hertz's offerings are
• 24:04
  competitively priced. Consumer Reports rates the Model
• 24:06
  3's reliability as average, supporting the notion that
• 24:10
  Hertz's Tesla vehicles are pretty good values.
• 24:14
  Now Hertz's decision to sell a substantial portion of its EV
• 24:18
  fleet shows a big shift in its business strategy, reflecting
• 24:22
  the current challenges and economic realities of the EV
• 24:24
  market. This move offers customers an
• 24:27
  opportunity to purchase EVs at lower prices with considerations
• 24:32
  regarding their condition and reliability.
• 24:35
  It might be right for you, so go check it out.
• 24:38
  Honda Motors has introduced a new electric vehicle series, the
• 24:41
  Honda 0, set to launch in North America in 2026.
• 24:46
  Now this series includes 2 new concepts, the Saloon, A sleek
• 24:50
  sedan like vehicle and the Space Hub which is a boxier fan style
• 24:55
  model. Now these are lighter, more
• 24:58
  aerodynamic electric vehicles, contrasting the current trend of
• 25:02
  larger and heavier EVs like Cybertruck.
• 25:06
  Now the Honda 0 Series is built on three Guided principles,
• 25:10
  Thin, Light and Wise. Now this approach involves
• 25:14
  starting from scratch in engineering, signified by a new
• 25:17
  H Mark logo exclusive to Honda's new generation EVs.
• 25:22
  The company aims to redefine EV design, focusing on more
• 25:25
  streamline, inefficient models than what they have right now.
• 25:29
  The specifics of how Honda will achieve this innovative
• 25:32
  lightweight design in their new EV series remains undisclosed.
• 25:36
  Only Honda knows about it, and the current USEV market is
• 25:39
  dominated by large SUVs and trucks.
• 25:42
  But how does initiative suggest a different direction,
• 25:44
  emphasizing smaller, lighter vehicles?
• 25:47
  Additionally, Honda collaborates with Sony on the Afila electric
• 25:51
  car set to enter the North American market by 2026.
• 25:55
  However, the connection between the Afila and Honda 0 series is
• 25:59
  not quite clear right yet. The saloon features a sporty,
• 26:03
  low riding design inspired by Formula One racing, with a
• 26:06
  minimalistic interior and unique lighting fixtures, and the space
• 26:11
  hub is building a futuristic minivan includes features like a
• 26:15
  panoramic moonroof and interior design suitable for autonomous
• 26:18
  shuttle services. It's designed focuses on space
• 26:21
  efficiency with no rear window at all, indicating a reliance on
• 26:26
  cameras for rear visibility. Honda also suggests that these
• 26:30
  vehicles will have partial to full autonomous capabilities.
• 26:34
  Honda's advanced driver assist features based on the sensing
• 26:38
  platform will be a crucial component of the Honda 0 series.
• 26:42
  First introduced with the Honda Legend in Japan, the Level 2
• 26:46
  system requires driver attention but will offer hands free
• 26:49
  driving in certain conditions starting in the mid twenty 20s.
• 26:54
  The company emphasizes sportiness in the Honda 0
• 26:56
  series, drawing from its Formula One experience to enhance
• 26:59
  performance, and Honda also focuses on battery efficiency,
• 27:03
  employing E axles to optimize energy conversion.
• 27:07
  Now Honda plans to integrate AI powered features in these
• 27:10
  vehicles, aiming for a personalized driving experience,
• 27:13
  and these features will adjust to driver preferences and
• 27:16
  provide route suggestions. Demonstrating Honda's commitment
• 27:19
  to advanced technology integration and how does global
• 27:22
  EV presence has been kind of limited so far with models like
• 27:27
  the Honda E City car and the upcoming Pro Log SUV.
• 27:31
  The company targets 30 new E VS by 20-30, aiming for 2 million
• 27:36
  units sold in a commitment to 0 emission auto sales by 2040.
• 27:42
  However, how does face challenges such as the recent
• 27:45
  cancellation of a project with General Motors for affordable
• 27:49
  EVs and setbacks in autonomous vehicle development due to an
• 27:52
  incident involving crews. GMs autonomous unit of the
• 27:57
  upcoming Prologue SUV marks Honda's renewed effort in the
• 28:01
  North American EV market. Differing in design and appeal
• 28:04
  from the new Honda 0 series. Tusha Hero, Meebi Honda's global
• 28:08
  CEO, has critiqued the current trend of heavier E VS,
• 28:12
  emphasizing a return to Huda's roots in lightweight vehicle
• 28:15
  design. Unveiled the 2024 CES, the Honda
• 28:20
  Ciro series, including the Salon and the Space Hub, shows a new
• 28:23
  EV platform and a design philosophy prioritizing interior
• 28:28
  space and minimal mechanical component footprint.
• 28:32
  These both of these vehicles feature a low wide exterior and
• 28:36
  spacious interior supported by a high density battery for longer
• 28:41
  range and the battery tech in these vehicles is designed for
• 28:44
  longevity with a fast charging capability and a promise of
• 28:48
  retaining a high percentage of capacity.
• 28:50
  Over a decade now, Honda Sensing Elite with advanced AI and
• 28:55
  driver monitoring systems will offer a high level of automated
• 28:59
  drive in including hands free operation in various conditions
• 29:03
  and the driving experience in the Honda 0 series is described
• 29:06
  as sporty. Benefiting from Honda's
• 29:09
  experience with Formula One, this aerodynamic design and
• 29:11
  performance enhancing technologies contribute to this
• 29:14
  driving dynamic. An in house developed operating
• 29:17
  system for the Honda 0 series will use AI to learn different
• 29:21
  drivers behaviors making driving more intuitive and responsive
• 29:26
  for every single person. Now this technology will enhance
• 29:30
  the overall driving experience by adapting to anyone's driving
• 29:35
  habits. Now, even the iconic Honda logo
• 29:38
  will see a redesign for the Honda 0 series, and it shows
• 29:41
  that Honda's moving into a new era for the company.
• 29:44
  Now, while some futuristic features like gullwing doors
• 29:47
  remain speculative, the unique designs of the saloon and space
• 29:51
  hub have certainly garnered attention.
• 29:53
  And Honda's launch of the Zero EV series marks a huge shift in
• 29:59
  the company's approach to EVs, emphasizing lighter, more
• 30:02
  efficient design. The series aims to offer a
• 30:05
  unique blended performance technology and sustainability,
• 30:09
  and in my opinion, Honda Zero will make a notable impact in
• 30:13
  the EV market if they continue with the Honda 0 series and make
• 30:18
  an affordable EV for everybody. NASA has recently announced some
• 30:24
  schedule changes for its Artemis program, aiming to enhance the
• 30:28
  long term scientific exploration of the Moon and prepare humans
• 30:32
  for expeditions to the Red Planet of Mars, and this
• 30:35
  involves SpaceX and their Starship program.
• 30:38
  The adjustments involve the Artemis 2 and Artemis 3
• 30:41
  missions, now slated for September 2025 and 2026
• 30:46
  respectively, and Artemis 4, set for 2028 will be the first
• 30:50
  mission to the Gateway Lunar Space Station.
• 30:54
  This shift in planning reflects NASA's commitment to safety and
• 30:56
  its approach to addressing challenges in first time
• 30:59
  developments and operations. This is an experimental ship
• 31:04
  that will be going to the moon. So the Artemis 2 mission, which
• 31:07
  is the first crude lunar journey, now targets a September
• 31:11
  2025 launch. Artemis 3, scheduled for the
• 31:15
  following year, is planned to land astronauts near the lunar
• 31:18
  South Pole. These revised dates or response
• 31:21
  to the need for extra time to address challenges and ensure
• 31:25
  the safety of astronauts, particularly given the
• 31:27
  complexity of these missions. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
• 31:31
  emphasized the agency's dedication to astronaut safety
• 31:34
  and the success during this mission.
• 31:36
  He said the commercial and international partnerships in
• 31:40
  advancing humans understanding of its place in the solar system
• 31:44
  are paramount, and Nelson described Artemis as a symbol of
• 31:47
  global collaboration in achievement.
• 31:49
  Space exploration and the primary driver behind the
• 31:52
  Artemis 2 schedule adjustment is ensuring cruise safety.
• 31:57
  The mission will test the Orion spacecraft's environmental
• 32:00
  control and life support systems, and recent tests to
• 32:04
  qualify these components have revealed some issues needing
• 32:07
  additional resolution time, including a battery problem and
• 32:11
  challenges with a circuitry component responsible for air
• 32:15
  ventilation and temperature control.
• 32:18
  NASA is also investigating the unexpected loss of charred layer
• 32:22
  pieces from Artemis 1 spacecraft heat shield.
• 32:26
  Now Artemis one took a trip around the moon and came back
• 32:29
  down to Earth, and the heat shield was kind of broken up on
• 32:34
  its way back in. The investigation, expected to
• 32:36
  conclude during the spring time of 2024, involves extensive
• 32:40
  sampling, testing, and data review, and they've been testing
• 32:43
  this since the Artemis 1 mission came back down to Earth all of
• 32:47
  2023. This methodical approach aims to
• 32:50
  fully understand the issue and prevent its recurrence and
• 32:53
  future missions. Now there's a Artemis 3 timeline
• 32:56
  update, too. It's designed to incorporate
• 32:59
  lessons from Artemis One and two and address development
• 33:02
  challenges faced by NASA's industry partners.
• 33:05
  This approach, recognizing the increased complexity of each
• 33:08
  crude mission, allows for additional testing and
• 33:11
  refinement of new capabilities, particularly those being
• 33:14
  developed by SpaceX and Axiom Space.
• 33:18
  SpaceX is developing the Starship for the Human Landing
• 33:22
  system in Axiom Space is developing the lunar space suit.
• 33:27
  SpaceX is right on target for mid February for the third
• 33:32
  launch of their Starship from Boca Chica Starbase, Texas.
• 33:36
  Now, Catherine Corner, the associate administrator at NASA,
• 33:39
  said. We're letting the hardware talk
• 33:41
  to us so that crew safety drives our decision making.
• 33:44
  She explained that each Artemis flight test is aimed at reducing
• 33:47
  risks for future moon missions and resolving challenges
• 33:51
  associated with first time capabilities and operations.
• 33:54
  Alongside these mission updates, NASA is reviewing the schedule
• 33:58
  for launching the Gateway Lunar Space Station's first integrated
• 34:01
  elements. The review aims to provide more
• 34:04
  development time and better aim this launch with Artemis 4 in
• 34:08
  2028, ensuring A cohesive and efficient program progression.
• 34:13
  Now, NASA has requested Artemis, Human Landing System Provider
• 34:16
  SpaceX and also Blue Origin to apply knowledge gained in
• 34:20
  developing their systems towards future variations.
• 34:24
  These variations could potentially deliver large cargo
• 34:27
  on later missions, expanding the scope and capabilities of the
• 34:31
  Artemis program, which is already a pretty ambitious
• 34:35
  program. Now the Deputy Associate
• 34:38
  Administrator of Exploration Systems Development at NASA
• 34:41
  emphasized the need for getting foundational systems right for
• 34:44
  safe and successful long term exploration.
• 34:47
  He reiterated the priority of crew safety in the Artemis
• 34:50
  programs Moon to Mars exploration goals, and they will
• 34:54
  continue working with the crew and the companies involved to
• 34:58
  make this as safe as possible. NASA's leaders also stressed the
• 35:01
  importance of timely delivery by all partners to maximize flight
• 35:05
  objectives with available hardware, including SpaceX.
• 35:08
  Regular Progress Assessments and integrated programmatic planning
• 35:12
  are essential for the agency and its partners to achieve their
• 35:14
  exploration goals, and the Artemis program shows that we
• 35:18
  can move forward with space exploration.
• 35:21
  They're aiming to explore more of the Moon than ever before,
• 35:24
  and they seek to learn how to live and work in space and
• 35:27
  prepare for future human exploration on the Red Planet of
• 35:30
  Mars. NASA's foundation for Deep
• 35:32
  Spakes exploration includes the Space Launch System, Rocket
• 35:36
  Exploration Ground Systems, Orion spacecraft, the Starship
• 35:40
  Human Landing System, Next Generation Space Suits, Gateway,
• 35:44
  Lunar Space Station, and Rovers for the moon as well.
• 35:48
  And these components are all integral to the Artemis
• 35:51
  program's success in the agency's broader space
• 35:53
  exploration objectives to get people out into the solar
• 35:56
  system. And the recent schedule
• 35:58
  revisions in NASA's program highlight the agency's focus on
• 36:02
  overcoming technical challenges and ensuring the mission's
• 36:05
  successes. This pragmatic approach is
• 36:08
  essential for establishing A sustainable and secure framework
• 36:12
  for space exploration, setting the stage for more complex
• 36:15
  future missions. These changes mark a crucial
• 36:18
  step in advancing human presence on the Moon and eventually,
• 36:21
  human exploration of Mars. Because of your continued
• 36:25
  dedication to this podcast, I've been able to create the Elon
• 36:29
  Musk Podcast on YouTube, and we will be doing our first live
• 36:33
  stream this Sunday at 2:00 PM Eastern on January 14th.
• 36:38
  That's 2:00 PM Eastern January 14th on youtube.com/the Elon
• 36:44
  Musk Podcast. Now we're going to be talking
• 36:46
  about SpaceX, Tesla, everything, Elon Musk.
• 36:50
  Also some ChatGPT, Open AI, some other AI news.
• 36:54
  So please tune in this Sunday, 2:00 PM January 14th at
• 36:59
  youtube.com/the Elon Musk Podcast.
• 37:02
  Open AI recently announced the launch of its GPT store, which
• 37:07
  is a platform that allows users to share custom chat bots, also
• 37:11
  known as GPTS, and this store, which opens up new possibilities
• 37:15
  for ChatGPT alone was initially slated for a November release,
• 37:19
  but experienced several delays, finally becoming available in
• 37:22
  January of 2024. Now, since the introduction of
• 37:26
  the GPT Builder program in November, over 3 million custom
• 37:30
  GPTS have been created. These GPTS cover various
• 37:33
  applications and Open AI plans to feature outstanding examples
• 37:38
  in the store weekly. The GPT store's opening marks a
• 37:42
  significant expansion in open AIS ecosystem, offering more
• 37:45
  than just the company's in house developments now.
• 37:48
  The launch was postponed from November to December and then to
• 37:51
  January, and the GPT store enables creators to publicly
• 37:54
  showcase their custom chat bots, although currently only
• 37:58
  subscribers to Open AIS paid tiers can create and use these
• 38:02
  custom GPTS. In addition to the store, Open
• 38:05
  AI is initiating a revenue sharing model for GPT creators
• 38:09
  set to begin in the first quarter of the year.
• 38:12
  Creators will earn based on user engagement, though the specifics
• 38:15
  of the arrangements are yet to be disclosed, and Open AI has
• 38:19
  implemented a new review system to ensure that all custom GP TS
• 38:23
  adhere to its brand guidelines and usage policies.
• 38:27
  The company has also streamlined the process of reporting GP TS
• 38:30
  that users find harmful or unsafe.
• 38:33
  The GPT Store is accessible to users of GPT Plus Enterprise and
• 38:38
  a new subscription tier called Team.
• 38:41
  This tier, aimed at smaller teams of up to 150 members,
• 38:45
  includes access to GPT 4, Dolly Three, and advanced data
• 38:49
  analysis features with a commitment to privacy and data
• 38:52
  security chat. GPT Team is priced at $25 per
• 38:57
  user monthly when billed annually and $30 per user for
• 39:02
  monthly billing, and offers custom GPT creation for specific
• 39:06
  team needs. This plan ensures that user data
• 39:09
  and conversations are not utilized for model training
• 39:12
  purposes. Now Open AI's recent venture
• 39:15
  mirrors the concept of the Microsoft Store, providing A
• 39:18
  centralized location for sharing and discovering a wide range of
• 39:22
  custom GBT bots. The GBT Store features
• 39:25
  categories like Dolly writing, research, programming,
• 39:29
  education, and lifestyle promoting the visibility of
• 39:33
  these custom creations. And the GPT store not only
• 39:37
  offers a public platform for displaying custom GPTS, but also
• 39:41
  aims to enhance their discoverability.
• 39:43
  However, the creation and usage of these custom bots are limited
• 39:47
  to subscribers of specific open AI plans, and the revenue
• 39:51
  sharing program for GPT creators, primarily based on
• 39:54
  user engagement, shows a new direction for open AI.
• 39:57
  It offers creators a potential income stream for their
• 40:00
  innovations, aligning with the broader trend of monetizing.
• 40:04
  Digital creators Creations now ChatGPT team as part of this
• 40:10
  initiative extends existing subscription benefits.
• 40:14
  Of course, it uses Dolly 3 and GPT 4, and this shows that Open
• 40:19
  AI is willing and open to provide advanced tools for
• 40:24
  smaller teams. And admits these developments.
• 40:27
  Open AI has openly acknowledged the necessity of using
• 40:30
  copyrighted material in AI development.
• 40:33
  The company recently submitted a statement to EU KS House of
• 40:36
  Lords emphasizing that creating effective AI models like ChatGPT
• 40:40
  would be impossible without such materials.
• 40:44
  And Open AI submission highlights the extensive scope
• 40:47
  of copyright law covering almost all forms of human expression.
• 40:51
  The company argues that restricting training data to
• 40:53
  public domain sources would severely limit the effectiveness
• 40:57
  and relevance of modern AI systems.
• 41:00
  This acknowledgement follows a lawsuit filed by the New York
• 41:03
  Times against Open AI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorized
• 41:07
  use of the newspaper's content. Open AI has responded,
• 41:11
  dismissing the lawsuit as lacking of merit and reaffirming
• 41:16
  its commitment to journalism and collaborative partnerships.
• 41:20
  Now, Open AI Defense leans heavily on the principle of Fair
• 41:23
  use, which allows limited use of copyrighted material without
• 41:27
  explicit permission under specific conditions.
• 41:31
  The company maintains that using publicly available Internet
• 41:34
  materials for AI training falls under this principle.
• 41:37
  Now, this isn't the first instance of Open AI citing fair
• 41:41
  use in defense of its training methods.
• 41:43
  In a previous copyright lawsuit involving comedian Sarah
• 41:47
  Silverman, Open AI argued that the scope of copyright law
• 41:51
  includes exceptions for innovation, suggesting that
• 41:53
  their use of publicly available materials is a legitimate
• 41:57
  practice under fair use. Now the GPT stores launch,
• 42:01
  combined with the introduction of ChatGPT team, and Open AI
• 42:05
  stance on copyright issues, shows that the company is moving
• 42:08
  forward. It's a complex landscape of AI
• 42:11
  development and also making money.
• 42:13
  Open A is recent initiatives mark important steps in
• 42:16
  expanding the reach and capabilities of AI tech.
• 42:19
  The GPT Store and ChatGPT team offer new avenues for AI
• 42:24
  application and creation, and also a little bit of money
• 42:28
  there. And while the company's stance
• 42:30
  on copyright usage underscores the intricate balance between
• 42:33
  innovation and legal compliance, Hey, thank you so much for
• 42:37
  listening today. I really do appreciate your
• 42:39
  support. If you could take a second and
• 42:40
  hit the subscribe or the follow button on whatever podcast
• 42:43
  platform that you're listening on right now, I'd greatly
• 42:46
  appreciate it. It helps out the show
• 42:48
  tremendously and you'll never miss an episode.
• 42:51
  And each episode is about 10 minutes or less to get you
• 42:54
  caught up quickly. Please, if you want to support
• 42:57
  the show even more, go to Atreoncom, Stage Zero, and
• 43:03
  please take care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you
• 43:06
  tomorrow.