1 00:00:01,399 --> 00:00:05,519 Speaker 1: Europe is our weakest market. We're stronger everywhere else, so 2 00:00:06,639 --> 00:00:08,839 our sales are are doing doing well at this point. 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:16,879 We don't anticipate any any meaningful sales shortfall, and the 4 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,000 you know the obviously the stock market recognizes that since 5 00:00:22,039 --> 00:00:24,640 we're now back over a trillion dollars in market caps, 6 00:00:24,719 --> 00:00:28,559 so really the market is aware of the situation. So 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,079 it's it's already turned around. 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,359 Speaker 2: But sales still down compared to this time last year 9 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:35,960 in your in Europe. 10 00:00:36,039 --> 00:00:41,679 Speaker 1: Okay, and yes, but that's that's true of all manufacturers. 11 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:43,840 There's no except questions. 12 00:00:45,679 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 2: Does that mean that you're not going to be able? 13 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: Does that mean you're quite weak? 14 00:00:50,759 --> 00:00:54,119 Speaker 2: Okay, but you would acknowledge when you that what you 15 00:00:54,159 --> 00:00:56,039 are facing. Okay, let's just take it as Europe, what 16 00:00:56,039 --> 00:00:58,759 you are facing is a significant problem. This Tesla is 17 00:00:58,759 --> 00:01:03,000 an incredibly aspiration national brand. People identified with it, it 18 00:01:03,119 --> 00:01:05,439 saw it, they saw it as being at the forefront 19 00:01:05,439 --> 00:01:08,319 of the climate crisis. And now people are driving around 20 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,480 with stickers in their car saying I bought this before 21 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:12,840 we knew Elon was crazy. 22 00:01:14,079 --> 00:01:16,439 Speaker 1: And there are also people who are by buying it 23 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:22,599 because Elon's crazy, or however they may view it. So, yes, 24 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,599 we've lost some sales perths on the left, but we've 25 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,319 gained them on the right. The sales numbers at this 26 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:31,719 point are strong, and if we've seen no problem with them. 27 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 2: Mad So what I mean? 28 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: You can just look at the stock price if you 29 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:43,760 want the best insider information. The stock market analysts have 30 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:49,319 that and stock wouldn't be trading near all time eyes 31 00:01:49,719 --> 00:01:53,920 if it was not. If things weren't, They're fine. Don't 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:54,480 worry about it. 33 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,879 Speaker 2: Okay, I was citing sales figures rather than share price. 34 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,560 Well tell me then, how committed you are to Tesla? 35 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,239 Do you see yourself and are you committed to still 36 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:10,639 being the chief executive of Tesla in five years time? Yes, 37 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,039 no doubt about that at all. 38 00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: Well no, I might die, Okay, sure to that. Let 39 00:02:22,719 --> 00:02:24,759 me see you I'm dead? So slight? 40 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,159 Speaker 2: Does that mean that the value of your pay doesn't 41 00:02:30,199 --> 00:02:32,439 have any bearing on your decision? 42 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: Well that's not really Sorry discussion in this forum. The 43 00:02:43,319 --> 00:02:48,039 I think, obviously there should be a conversation for if 44 00:02:48,039 --> 00:02:52,360 there's something incredible is done, that compensation should match that 45 00:02:53,159 --> 00:02:59,879 something incredible was done. But I'm confident that whatever the 46 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:04,199 whatever some activist posing as a judge in Delaware. Happens 47 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,039 to do will not affect the future compensation. 48 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 2: This is the judge you twice struck down the fifty 49 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,759 six billion dollar pay package that was that was awarded 50 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,800 to you. I think the value on the basis on 51 00:03:16,879 --> 00:03:18,800 the current value of stock options. 52 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, not a judge, not a judge. The activist who 53 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:24,919 is causplaying a judge in a Halloween costume. 54 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:31,199 Speaker 2: Okay, that's your characterization. I think the on the current 55 00:03:31,319 --> 00:03:34,439 value of stock options. I think the actual justice according 56 00:03:34,479 --> 00:03:37,520 to the law, on the current value of stock options. 57 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:39,520 I think the value of that pay package stands at 58 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:42,120 about one hundred billion dollars. Are you saying you are 59 00:03:42,159 --> 00:03:47,000 relaxed about the value of your future pay package. Your 60 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,599 decision to be committed to Tesla for the next five 61 00:03:50,719 --> 00:03:53,120 years as long as you are still with us on 62 00:03:53,120 --> 00:04:01,240 this planet is completely independent of pay. No, it's not independent. 63 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,400 So pay is a relevant factor then to your commitment 64 00:04:03,439 --> 00:04:03,919 to Tesla. 65 00:04:06,639 --> 00:04:11,159 Speaker 1: A sufficient boarding control such that I cannot be ousted 66 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,919 by activists investors is what matters to me. And I've 67 00:04:13,919 --> 00:04:17,000 said this publicly many times, but let's not have this 68 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,879 whole thing be a discussion of my list pay. It's 69 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,199 not a money thing. It's a reasonable control thing over 70 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,079 the future of the company, especially if we building millions, 71 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,040 potentially billions of humanoid robots. I can't be sitting there 72 00:04:31,519 --> 00:04:34,879 and one going to get tossed out by for political 73 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,079 reasons by activists. That would be unacceptable. That's all that matters. Now, 74 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:39,680 let's move on. 75 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:45,959 Speaker 2: Okay, Well just one question, move on, Well, one question 76 00:04:46,079 --> 00:04:48,560 before we move on to other companies, which is that 77 00:04:48,639 --> 00:04:51,319 I wonder if some of what you've has happened to 78 00:04:51,399 --> 00:04:54,600 Tesla in the last few months, did you take it personally? 79 00:04:56,199 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: Yes? 80 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,759 Speaker 2: And did it make you re great? Any of you 81 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:13,759 all think twice about your political endeavors because it is 82 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:14,759 I I. 83 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: Did what needed to be done, uh, the violent antibody reaction, 84 00:05:21,079 --> 00:05:23,199 and I'm just I'm not someone who's ever committed violence, 85 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:29,360 and yet massive violence was committed against my companies, massive 86 00:05:29,439 --> 00:05:34,199 violence was threatened against me. Who are these people? Why 87 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:38,879 would they do that? How wrong can they be? They're 88 00:05:38,879 --> 00:05:41,920 on the wrong, on the wrong side of history, and 89 00:05:41,959 --> 00:05:44,759 that's an evil thing to do to go and damage 90 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:51,959 some pointocent person's car, to threaten to kill me. What 91 00:05:52,079 --> 00:05:57,079 strong are these people? I have not harmed anyone. So 92 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,160 something needs to be done about them, and a number 93 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:03,680 of them are going to prison and they deserve it. 94 00:06:05,199 --> 00:06:10,319 Speaker 2: You're well, you're referring to the attacks on Tesla showrooms, 95 00:06:10,879 --> 00:06:11,319 but I. 96 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:16,199 Speaker 1: Think, well, it's into showrooms and burning down cars is unacceptable. 97 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,800 Those people will go to prison, and the people that 98 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,360 funded them and organized them will also go to prison. 99 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 2: Don't worry, wouldn't you, wouldn't you or wouldn't wouldn't you 100 00:06:32,319 --> 00:06:34,759 acknowledge that some of the people who turned against Tesla 101 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:40,120 in Europe were were upset at your politics, and very 102 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,120 few of them would have been violent in any way. 103 00:06:42,199 --> 00:06:46,240 They just objected to what they saw you say or 104 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:47,040 do politically. 105 00:06:48,759 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: Well, it's certainly fine to object to political things, but 106 00:06:51,639 --> 00:06:54,800 it's not it's not fine to resort to violence and 107 00:06:54,839 --> 00:07:01,439 hanging someone in effigy and death threats. That's obviously not okay. 108 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:07,040 You know, that's absurd. That is in no way justifiable 109 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:11,240 at all in any way, shape or format. And some 110 00:07:11,279 --> 00:07:14,319 of the legacy media and nonelests have sort of justified, 111 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,560 which is unconscionable. Shame on them. 112 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,079 Speaker 2: Let's talk about your other companies. Then, in other business areas, 113 00:07:20,079 --> 00:07:22,800 SpaceX I saw that you said in a speech at 114 00:07:22,839 --> 00:07:26,959 the West Point Military Academy recently that the future of 115 00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:31,839 warfare is AI and drones, and obviously defense is an 116 00:07:31,959 --> 00:07:36,920 increasingly booming sector. With the state of the world at 117 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:46,160 the moment, do you see SpaceX moving into weaponized drones? 118 00:07:49,319 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: You certainly ask interesting questions that are impossible to answer. 119 00:07:55,399 --> 00:08:02,439 So SpaceX is is the space launch leader, So SpaceX 120 00:08:02,439 --> 00:08:10,560 doesn't do drones. SpaceX builds rockets, satellites and its terminals. 121 00:08:11,439 --> 00:08:17,560 So SpaceX has a a very dominant position in space launch. 122 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:22,279 So of the mass launch to orbit this year, SpaceX 123 00:08:22,319 --> 00:08:28,800 will probably do, China will do the remain half half 124 00:08:29,439 --> 00:08:31,279 of the remaining amounts of five percent, and the rest 125 00:08:31,319 --> 00:08:32,679 of the world, including the rest of the US, will 126 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,960 do about five percent. So SpaceX will do about ten 127 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:36,559 times as much as the rest of the world combined, 128 00:08:36,639 --> 00:08:38,519 or twenty times as much as China, which is in 129 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,720 China is doing actually a very impressive job. The reason 130 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,480 for this is that we're putting it into orbit the 131 00:08:44,519 --> 00:08:47,360 largest satellite constellation the Walls have ever seen by far, 132 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:53,399 So I think at this point about maybe approaching eight 133 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,200 percent of all active satellites in orbit are SpaceX and 134 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:02,039 they're providing high high mad with global connectvity throughout the world. 135 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:06,360 In fact, this connection is on a SpaceX connection. So 136 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:08,840 I think this is a very good thing because it 137 00:09:08,919 --> 00:09:12,840 means that we can provide low cost by bandwidth internet 138 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:14,720 to pass the world if don't have it or it's 139 00:09:14,799 --> 00:09:18,080 very expensive. And I think the single biggest thing you 140 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,720 can do to look people out of poverty and help 141 00:09:20,799 --> 00:09:25,159 them is giving them an Internet connection, because once you 142 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,600 have the Internet connection, you can learn anything for free 143 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,000 on the Internet, and you can also sell your goods 144 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:35,919 and services to the global market. And we want to 145 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,559 have knowledge by the Internet and the ability to engage 146 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:45,919 in commerce that this is going to greatly improve quality 147 00:09:45,919 --> 00:09:48,080 of life for people throughout the world. And it has. 148 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,159 And I'd just like to think anyone in the audience 149 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,320 who may have been helpful and you know, with Starlink 150 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,000 and getting it to approved in their country. And I 151 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,440 think it's doing a lot of good in the countries 152 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:00,840 that have a pret of it, which is I think 153 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:02,919 this point one hundred and thirty countries are very happy 154 00:10:02,919 --> 00:10:07,159 with it. I don't currently into space space actually getting 155 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,320 into the weapons business. That's something that's not an aspiration 156 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,720 we're freaquent. We're frequently asked to do to do weapons programs, 157 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:15,919 but we have justified a client. 158 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:22,559 Speaker 2: Do you envisage SpaceX or indeed starlink as a separate 159 00:10:22,919 --> 00:10:27,279 entity publicly listing in the near future or at all. 160 00:10:30,159 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: It's possible that starlink may go public at some point 161 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:35,320 in the future. 162 00:10:36,159 --> 00:10:38,399 Speaker 2: And what would be the what would be the time frame, 163 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,000 what kind of time frame you consider it? 164 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: I mean no rush, no, I mean no rush to 165 00:10:43,759 --> 00:10:48,240 your public. The public is, I guess, a way to 166 00:10:50,279 --> 00:10:53,639 you know, potentially make more money, but at the expense 167 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:58,279 of a lot of public company overhead and inevitably a 168 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,000 whole bunch of lawsuits which are very annoying. So really 169 00:11:02,039 --> 00:11:04,440 something needs to be done about the share shareholder shareholder 170 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,159 at road of lawsuits in the US because it allows 171 00:11:11,159 --> 00:11:14,879 plaintiff's law firms who don't represent the shareholders to pretend 172 00:11:14,879 --> 00:11:17,679 that they represent the shareholders by getting a puppet plaintiff 173 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:21,759 with a few shares to initiate a massive lawsuits the company, 174 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,759 and the irony being that extreme irony that even if 175 00:11:26,799 --> 00:11:29,840 the class they purport to represent were to vote that 176 00:11:29,919 --> 00:11:32,720 they don't want the lawsuit, the lawsuit will still continue. 177 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:36,279 So how can it be a class action representing a 178 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,240 class if the class were against it? And that's the 179 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:42,120 bizarre situation with Ground in the US that needs it's 180 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,799 a diary to perform as anyone's running public company. You've 181 00:11:46,799 --> 00:11:49,799 experienced this. It's an absurd situation that needs to change. 182 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 2: Well, do you think Donald Trump might change it? You've 183 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:55,440 certainly got his ear. I imagine that you've put this 184 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,120 to him. Is this something you're trying to change before 185 00:11:59,279 --> 00:12:00,720 any alnk Ipo. 186 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: Well, we need, we need a law to be passed. 187 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:12,399 The trouble being that you need sixty Senate Senate voters 188 00:12:12,879 --> 00:12:18,440 and the Democrats will vote against it. The the the 189 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,600 plaintiff's bar is I believe, the second and largest contributor 190 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:28,840 to the Democratic Party. That's that's the issue. At the 191 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,000 state level, this can be solved, and I should say 192 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:37,080 Texas recently passed a law which at at least the 193 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:41,320 state level made Yes, it's much more reasonable because you 194 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,519 have to get at least one in thirty three shareholders 195 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,440 to agree that they are part of a class of 196 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:52,440 shareholders three. This is a This will be really helped 197 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,000 with privilege lawsuits. 198 00:12:54,399 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 2: Okay, let's talk about AI, which is in so many 199 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:04,080 of your businessnesses and in all our worlds in different ways. 200 00:13:04,279 --> 00:13:08,559 It's one of the big changes the development of generative AI. 201 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,240 Since you last spoke to this forum three years ago, 202 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,120 you're in this space, of course with Grop which almost 203 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,559 everyone will know. You co founded open ai and then left, 204 00:13:18,639 --> 00:13:22,519 and you've obviously got a legal battle with open ai 205 00:13:22,759 --> 00:13:24,879 and Sam Altman. I wonder if you could say something 206 00:13:24,919 --> 00:13:28,080 about the status of that, because you were together in 207 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:32,080 Saudi Arabia with the president last week, with Sam Altman 208 00:13:33,519 --> 00:13:35,320 in the same place at the same time. 209 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:37,399 Speaker 1: In the neighborhood. 210 00:13:38,519 --> 00:13:41,799 Speaker 2: So does that mean you are pushing ahead with the 211 00:13:41,879 --> 00:13:43,440 lawsuit against open ai. 212 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: Yes. So I came up with the name open ai 213 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,559 as an open source and as a nonprofit, and I 214 00:13:54,639 --> 00:14:00,559 founded AI opening I for the first roughly fifty million dollars, 215 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:06,120 and it was intended to be a nonprofit open source company, 216 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,960 and now is they're trying to change that for their 217 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:14,200 own financial benefit into a for profit company that is 218 00:14:14,279 --> 00:14:18,600 closed source. So this would be like let's say you 219 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,240 you finded a nonprofit to help reserve the Amazon rainforest, 220 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,480 but instead of doing that, they became a lumber company 221 00:14:25,559 --> 00:14:28,240 chopped down the forest and sold the word. You'd be like, 222 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,879 wait a second, that's not what I funded. That's opening eye. 223 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 2: They've made some changes to their call for instructure, though, 224 00:14:34,639 --> 00:14:39,000 haven't they since in recognition of of what you've said? 225 00:14:40,679 --> 00:14:42,159 Speaker 1: Now that's just what they told the media. 226 00:14:43,679 --> 00:14:51,639 Speaker 2: Okay, they have part they have partly walked back their 227 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:55,480 plan to restructure the business. I guess that's made no 228 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,639 difference to how you feel about it. So you determined 229 00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:02,639 to see them in court, of course, Well, that's that's 230 00:15:02,639 --> 00:15:04,600 certainly going to be one to watch. I also wanted 231 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,080 to ask you about AI and regulation because when you 232 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,200 were here last talking to John Nickolthway, you had some 233 00:15:10,279 --> 00:15:14,879 pretty strong words about the risk that AI poses, and 234 00:15:14,919 --> 00:15:18,559 you said that you really felt what the US was 235 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,639 missing was a federal AI regulator, that you know, something 236 00:15:22,639 --> 00:15:25,039 along lines of the Food and Drug Administration or the 237 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,559 Federal Aviation Administration. Now you're clearly now in a zone 238 00:15:28,679 --> 00:15:32,240 where you're more you're more on the cutting regulation side 239 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,519 than wanting new regulators. So has your view changed on 240 00:15:35,559 --> 00:15:37,039 the need for an AI regulator? 241 00:15:38,879 --> 00:15:40,639 Speaker 1: Well, that that I don't think there should be regulator. 242 00:15:40,799 --> 00:15:44,440 Is you think of regulators like referees on the on 243 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,759 the field. In sports, there should be some number of referees, 244 00:15:48,799 --> 00:15:50,840 but that you shouldn't have so many referees that you 245 00:15:50,879 --> 00:15:55,759 can kick the ball without hitting one. So in many 246 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:01,240 and most fields in the US, that the regulatory burden 247 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,360 has grown over time to the point where it's like 248 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:09,919 having more referees than players on the field. So and 249 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,879 this is a natural consequence of an extended period of prosperity. 250 00:16:12,919 --> 00:16:17,600 It's very important to appreciate this. This is happened throughout history. 251 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,240 When you have an extended period of prosperity with no 252 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:26,679 existential war, there's no there's no cleansing function for the 253 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:32,039 for unnecessary laws and regulations. So what happens is that 254 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:36,120 every year more laws and more regulations are pasted, because 255 00:16:37,759 --> 00:16:40,440 you know, legislators are going to legislate, regulators are going 256 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:44,360 to regulate, and you will get the steady pile of 257 00:16:44,639 --> 00:16:48,480 more and more laws and regulations of a time until 258 00:16:48,559 --> 00:16:52,039 everything is illegal. And let me give you an example 259 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:57,120 of a truly absurd situation under the Biden administration, Space 260 00:16:57,159 --> 00:17:04,599 EFFX was sued for not hiring asylum seekers in the US. Now, 261 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,440 the problem is it's actually illegal for SpaceX under itard 262 00:17:08,759 --> 00:17:12,160 in National Traffic and Arms regulations to hire anyone who 263 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,880 is not a permanent resident of the United States, because 264 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,880 the preface being that they will take advanced rocket technology 265 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:19,839 and return to their home country if they're not a 266 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:24,960 permanent resident. So we're simultaneously in a situation where it's 267 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,880 illegal to hire simul science use and is also illegal 268 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,559 to hire asylum seekers, and the Widen's Departner of Justice 269 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:38,000 chose to prosecute us despite both paths being illegal. Down 270 00:17:38,079 --> 00:17:39,279 if you do, Down if you don't. 271 00:17:39,599 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 2: My question specifically about a regulator for AI, which you 272 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,839 said three years ago was needed, and you said we 273 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,799 need to be proactive on the regulation of AI rather 274 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,319 than reactive. Have you changed your mind on that? 275 00:17:54,559 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: No, of course not. No, of course not. What I'm 276 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,400 saying is that there should be summer recently on the field, 277 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,279 a few referees, but you shouldn't have a field jam 278 00:18:05,279 --> 00:18:08,519 packed with referees, uh that such that you cannot kick 279 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,279 the ball in any direction without hitting one. So the 280 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,200 the fields that have been around for a long time, 281 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:21,720 such as automotive, so aerospace, you know, if the sort 282 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:26,440 of food and drug industries are overregulated, but the new 283 00:18:26,519 --> 00:18:31,319 fields like artificial intelligence are underregulated. In fact, there is 284 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:32,720 no regulator. 285 00:18:32,319 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 2: At all, so they should be. Do you still think. 286 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,559 Speaker 1: That, Yes, I'm simply saying, which I think is just 287 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,720 basic common sense, that you want to have at least 288 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:44,599 you want to have a few referees in the field. 289 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,200 You don't want to have an army of referees, but 290 00:18:48,279 --> 00:18:50,799 you want to have a few referees on any given field, 291 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:55,279 in any given sport or any given arena, industrial arena, 292 00:18:56,079 --> 00:19:00,079 to ensure help that public safety is taking care of 293 00:19:00,079 --> 00:19:03,640 of But you already has. So there's a there's a 294 00:19:03,799 --> 00:19:06,920 there's a proper number of referees. Like I said, it's 295 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,000 actually very easy to visualize this when compared to sports. 296 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,440 If the whole field is packed with referees, that would 297 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,440 look absurd. But if there were no referees at all, 298 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,319 your game is not going to be as good. 299 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:23,759 Speaker 2: Okay, So let's then talk about your new world, your 300 00:19:24,039 --> 00:19:27,599 your role advising government. You are in this unique and 301 00:19:28,079 --> 00:19:32,680 unprecedented position of having billions of dollars worth of contracts 302 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,359 with the federal government yourself, mostly through SpaceX and also 303 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,680 now an insight does knowledge of it because of those 304 00:19:40,279 --> 00:19:44,759 can you see that there is a conflict of interest 305 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,440 or a potential conflict of interest in broad terms, just 306 00:19:47,519 --> 00:19:48,519 through that very fact. 307 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: I don't think so. Actually, there have been many advisors 308 00:19:53,759 --> 00:19:57,920 in throughout history and the US goverment and others who 309 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,759 have had economic interests, and I am silutely an advisor. 310 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:08,000 I don't have a formal power. And that's a president 311 00:20:08,039 --> 00:20:12,039 can choose to accept my advice or not, and that's 312 00:20:12,079 --> 00:20:14,559 that's how it goes. If there's a single contract that 313 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,039 any of my companies that have received that people think 314 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:24,559 is somehow not was awarded improperly, it would immediately be 315 00:20:24,599 --> 00:20:29,640 front page news, to say the least. And if if 316 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:32,079 if I hadn't mentioned it something, my competitors would. So 317 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,440 if you're not seeing that, then the cliller is not 318 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:39,160 a complex of interest. The Yeah, there's. 319 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,279 Speaker 2: Another way though to look at it. That For example, 320 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,839 you have many competitors, whether it's companies like Boeing or 321 00:20:44,839 --> 00:20:47,359 companies would like to do more of the kind of 322 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,240 work you do for NASA Blue Origin Rocket Lab. And 323 00:20:51,039 --> 00:20:58,079 because DOGE is in every federal government department, you or 324 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:01,599 people who work for DOGE and you are the driving 325 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:06,400 force behind it, have an insight into those companies affairs 326 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,400 and those companies relationships with the federal government. 327 00:21:11,599 --> 00:21:16,559 Speaker 1: Now, all we do is we review the organization to 328 00:21:16,599 --> 00:21:21,720 see if if the organization has departments that are no 329 00:21:21,799 --> 00:21:26,559 longer relevant, and and then are the contracts that that 330 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,480 are being awarded good value for money? In fact, frankly, 331 00:21:29,519 --> 00:21:31,720 the bar is not particularly high. Is there any value 332 00:21:31,759 --> 00:21:35,400 money in a contract? And if there's if there isn't, 333 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,640 then we may make recommendations to the secretary. The secretary 334 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,079 can I choose to take those actions or not take 335 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:46,039 those actions, And that's it. And then any action that 336 00:21:46,039 --> 00:21:48,680 that that is as a function of DOGE is posted 337 00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:52,799 to the DOGE website and to the doge dog got 338 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,359 at doge handle on the x platform. So it's it's 339 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:00,759 complete tran transparency. And I have not seen any a 340 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,440 case where where so that's my large it's even been 341 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:09,240 an accusation of conflict because it is completely and utterly transparent. 342 00:22:10,799 --> 00:22:11,200 That's it. 343 00:22:11,319 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 2: And what about the international dimension. Now, let's think about Starlink. 344 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,720 Starlink is obviously a very very good internet service. It's 345 00:22:18,759 --> 00:22:21,400 sought after all over the world. It's critical to the 346 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:26,079 frontline in Ukraine. It has also had more contracts coming 347 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,200 its way, and there is some evidence that companies are 348 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,200 allowing access to it because they want to be close 349 00:22:33,279 --> 00:22:35,839 to the Trump administration and send the right signal. So 350 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,079 bloomberat It broke news today that the South African government 351 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,400 is working around the rules on black ownership in order 352 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,480 to allow starlinkin and that is being done on the 353 00:22:45,519 --> 00:22:49,319 eve of the visit the President Ramaposa is going to 354 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,440 make the White House. Do you recognize that as a 355 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:53,519 conflict of interest? 356 00:22:54,799 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: Now? Of course, first of all, you should be questioning 357 00:22:57,599 --> 00:22:59,680 why is there why are the racist laws in Africa? 358 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,359 That's the first problem. That's what you should be attacking. 359 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,240 It's improper for the racist laws in South Africa. The 360 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,559 whole idea with what Nelson Mandela, who is a great man, proposed, 361 00:23:10,599 --> 00:23:12,960 was that all races should be on an equal footing. 362 00:23:13,079 --> 00:23:15,599 Is South Africa. That's the right thing to do, not 363 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:17,839 to replace one set of racist laws, but another set 364 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:22,079 of racist laws which is ubslutely wrong and improper. So 365 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,039 that's that's the deal, that all races should be treated 366 00:23:26,079 --> 00:23:28,960 equally and there should be no preference given to one 367 00:23:29,039 --> 00:23:31,799 or the other. Whereas there are now one hundred and 368 00:23:31,839 --> 00:23:38,720 forty laws in South Africa that give that basically gives 369 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:41,079 strong preference to to if you're if you're black South 370 00:23:41,079 --> 00:23:44,519 African and not otherwise. And so now I'm in the 371 00:23:44,559 --> 00:23:46,480 subsurd situation where I was born in South Africa but 372 00:23:46,559 --> 00:23:50,559 cannot get a license to operate installing because I'm not black. Well, 373 00:23:50,559 --> 00:23:54,279 it looks it looks looks like that, right, it looks 374 00:23:54,319 --> 00:23:57,440 like that's about to change. I just asked you a question, 375 00:23:58,079 --> 00:23:59,920 Please answer. Does that seem right to you? 376 00:24:00,519 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 2: Well, those rules were designed to bring Those rules were 377 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,160 designed to bring about an era of more economic equality 378 00:24:08,319 --> 00:24:11,519 in South Africa, and it looks like the government has 379 00:24:11,519 --> 00:24:13,440 found a way around those rules for you. 380 00:24:15,079 --> 00:24:15,799 Speaker 1: Ask your question. 381 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 2: This is this is your interview. Everyone wants to hear from. 382 00:24:19,519 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 1: You, yes or no. 383 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 2: Not for me, Not for me to answer. I have 384 00:24:24,839 --> 00:24:28,319 got a question for you about about your government work 385 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:33,720 and the amount of savings raceless loves. This is not 386 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,920 for me to answer. Come on, now, you wouldn't be 387 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,599 trying to dodge a question. 388 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:42,519 Speaker 1: Question answer you answer? 389 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 2: I say, I think if you I'm sure you can 390 00:24:45,279 --> 00:24:47,799 have that conversation directly with the South African government if 391 00:24:47,799 --> 00:24:49,880 you want to. I want to ask you about the 392 00:24:50,039 --> 00:24:53,880 total I want to ask you about the total around. 393 00:24:55,519 --> 00:24:57,400 I want to ask you about the total amount that 394 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:01,359 you're planning to save through doses work. Before the election, 395 00:25:01,519 --> 00:25:03,960 you said it was going to be at least two trillion. 396 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:08,839 The number currently on dose DOGARV is one hundred and 397 00:25:08,839 --> 00:25:12,759 seventy billion dollars. That's a big change. What happened to 398 00:25:12,799 --> 00:25:13,920 the two trillion. 399 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: Or do you expect it to happen immediately? Well? 400 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 2: Is it going to happen because dose is supposed to 401 00:25:19,759 --> 00:25:20,920 run till next July. 402 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,759 Speaker 1: I mean your question is episode in this fundamental premise? 403 00:25:25,319 --> 00:25:28,039 Are you assuming that on day you know, within a 404 00:25:28,039 --> 00:25:30,279 few months this instant two trillion saved. 405 00:25:30,759 --> 00:25:32,319 Speaker 2: No, I'm not sure. I'm just asking you. Is that 406 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:33,240 still your aim? 407 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,160 Speaker 1: Then? Is it still your aim to get amount of time? 408 00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:39,359 Have we not made good progress given the amount of time? 409 00:25:40,759 --> 00:25:43,039 Speaker 2: That's exactly what I'm asking. So is it still your 410 00:25:43,079 --> 00:25:45,480 aim to go from one hundred and seventy billion to 411 00:25:45,599 --> 00:25:46,400 two trillion? 412 00:25:49,319 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: The ability of those to operate is this function of 413 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:59,200 whether the government and doesn't quit. The Congress is willing 414 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,000 to take our advice. We're not the dictators of the government. 415 00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:07,279 We are the advisors, and so we can advise, and 416 00:26:07,319 --> 00:26:09,559 the progress we've made thus far I think is incredible. 417 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:16,000 Those teams do incredible work, but the magnitude of the 418 00:26:16,039 --> 00:26:19,240 savings is proportionate to the support we get from Congress 419 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:24,440 and from the executive branch of the government in general. 420 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:30,799 So we're not the dictators. We are the advisors. But 421 00:26:30,839 --> 00:26:35,200 thus far, for advisors with the DOG team, to their credit, 422 00:26:36,839 --> 00:26:39,359 has made incredible progress. 423 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 2: You've talked about four billion dollars a day being saved, 424 00:26:45,039 --> 00:26:48,720 but that that won't get which is an I think 425 00:26:48,759 --> 00:26:52,680 everyone can agree that combating waste and inefficiency in government 426 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:54,880 is a very good thing, but if you add that up, 427 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:56,519 is not going to get to two trillion over the 428 00:26:56,559 --> 00:27:04,359 lifetime of DOG. I'm sorry, the four billion, the four 429 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:06,359 billion a day, if those are going to run till 430 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,759 next July, is not going to get you to two 431 00:27:08,759 --> 00:27:14,920 trillion dollars. But you still say it's your aim, so 432 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:16,079 we'll take that as read. 433 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,519 Speaker 1: There's there's, there's, there's what doge I mean? I fail? 434 00:27:21,559 --> 00:27:25,759 You're somewhat trapped in the NPC dialogue tree of a 435 00:27:25,799 --> 00:27:30,680 traditional book journalist, so it's difficult when when I'm conversing 436 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,279 with someone who's trapped the dialogue of a conventional journalist 437 00:27:33,559 --> 00:27:39,599 because it's like talking to a computer. So, uh, doge 438 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,359 is an advisory group. We are doing the best we 439 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:46,559 can as an advisory group. The progress made thus far 440 00:27:46,599 --> 00:27:49,680 as an advisory group is excellent. I don't think any 441 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,920 advisory group has done better in the history of advisory 442 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:57,160 groups of the government. Now, we we do not make 443 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:01,240 the laws, nor do we control the the judiciary, nor 444 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:05,359 do we control the executive branch. We are simply advisors. 445 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:09,200 In that context, we're doing very well. Beyond that, we 446 00:28:09,279 --> 00:28:13,279 cannot we cannot take action beyond that because we are 447 00:28:13,279 --> 00:28:16,839 not some sort of imperial dictator of the government. There 448 00:28:16,839 --> 00:28:20,799 are three branches of government that that art some degree 449 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:26,319 opposed to that level of cost savings. Unless let's let's 450 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:32,440 let's not criticize whether there's a four trillion. Instead look 451 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,960 at the fact that our sixty billion has been saved 452 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:36,160 and more. We say too. 453 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: And as I said, I think everyone can agree that 454 00:28:40,039 --> 00:28:44,400 cutting waste and indeed fraud in any government and being 455 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:49,440 responsible with taxpace money is a very good thing. So yes, 456 00:28:49,599 --> 00:28:51,480 I can see, I can see that you're proud of 457 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:56,680 that work. I do want to ask you about USAID 458 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:59,599 and the comments that Bill Gates made the other day, 459 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:02,960 which I and I know that you called himim. I 460 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,000 know you've said that already. 461 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:10,279 Speaker 1: I wanted and I'm just who does Biggs think he 462 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,759 is to make comments about the welfare of children, given 463 00:29:14,039 --> 00:29:16,799 that he is before quent to Jeffreystein. 464 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:23,359 Speaker 2: Okay, well, he's he's he said he regrets those and 465 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,640 he's spent. He spent. He spent a lot. He spent 466 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,519 a lot of his own money on on philanthropy around 467 00:29:30,519 --> 00:29:32,920 the world over the years. My question to you is 468 00:29:33,279 --> 00:29:35,920 have you looked at the data to check if he 469 00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:39,039 might be right that the cuts to U s a 470 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:43,279 I D might cost millions of lives. 471 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 1: Yes, I'd like him to pursure us any any evidence 472 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:52,359 whatsoever that that is true. It's false. The what we're 473 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:54,880 found with US cuts and by the way, they haven't 474 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,640 an open cut. The of the U s a D 475 00:29:57,799 --> 00:30:01,720 that we found to be even slightly useful, we're transferred 476 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:04,000 to the Stage Profits, so they've not been deleted. They've 477 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,400 cerly been transferred to the stage department. But many many 478 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,880 times over with U SAD and other organizations when we've 479 00:30:11,039 --> 00:30:13,000 when they said, oh, well, this is going to help 480 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:19,160 you know, children, or it's going to help some uh 481 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,000 disease eradication or something like that. And then when we 482 00:30:22,039 --> 00:30:25,759 ask for any evidence whatsoever, I say, well, please connect 483 00:30:25,799 --> 00:30:28,160 us with this group of children so we can talk 484 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,079 to them and understand more about their issue. We get nothing. 485 00:30:32,559 --> 00:30:34,920 We don't We don't even try to prevent a show. 486 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,599 We should come up with a with a show orphan 487 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,200 meaning like it's sort of like, well, can we at 488 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,519 least see a few kids, like where are they if 489 00:30:44,519 --> 00:30:47,079 they're in trouble, we'd like to talk to them and 490 00:30:47,119 --> 00:30:49,680 talk to their caregivers. And then we get a thing 491 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:54,160 as a response, because it's what we find is an 492 00:30:54,279 --> 00:30:56,680 enormous amount of fraud and graft. 493 00:30:57,519 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 2: I put this example. 494 00:30:58,759 --> 00:31:01,799 Speaker 1: Very little actually gets of it, kiuse if anything at all. 495 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,079 Speaker 2: Okay, let me put this example to you because you 496 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:06,799 grew up in South Africa, so you will know the 497 00:31:06,839 --> 00:31:09,480 impact of HIV AIDS well. And this is why I 498 00:31:09,519 --> 00:31:13,599 asked about the data the US led on international efforts 499 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:18,119 to combat HIV AIDS treatment prevention. And there's an initiative 500 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,039 called pet File which is credited with saving twenty six 501 00:31:21,079 --> 00:31:24,119 million lives in the last twenty years. It was part 502 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:26,799 of the foreign aid freeze. Then there was a limited waiver. 503 00:31:27,279 --> 00:31:33,440 Its services are disrupted, and unaid says if permanly discontinued, 504 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:37,359 there will be another four million AIDS related deaths by 505 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:41,240 twenty twenty nine. So if you look at that example, 506 00:31:41,559 --> 00:31:44,759 which is backed up by data. In twenty twenty three, 507 00:31:44,839 --> 00:31:48,440 six hundred and thirty thousand people died of AIDS related illnesses, 508 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:51,519 then perhaps Bill Gates's figures are not wrong. Millions of 509 00:31:51,559 --> 00:31:52,519 lives could be lost. 510 00:31:54,799 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: First of all, the program, the AIDS medication program, is continuing, 511 00:32:04,359 --> 00:32:08,319 so your fund moral premise is wrong. It is continuing. Now, 512 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:09,839 do you have another example. 513 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:17,519 Speaker 2: Not in its entirety, not in its entirety the program 514 00:32:17,519 --> 00:32:20,920 there's a limited waiver, and UNAIDS have said that not 515 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,039 all of the services that were previously funded by USA 516 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:27,119 IDEA continuing. So that's that's why, that's why I put 517 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:28,119 that example to you. 518 00:32:28,519 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: Okay, well, which ones aren't being funded? 519 00:32:30,519 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 2: I'll fix it right now for okay. Well, actually they're 520 00:32:34,759 --> 00:32:37,839 all on the un unaid's website, so you'll be able 521 00:32:37,839 --> 00:32:39,599 to see them. But mostly they are to deal with 522 00:32:40,039 --> 00:32:42,720 Mostly they are to do with prevention, and for example, 523 00:32:42,759 --> 00:32:46,519 the rollout of a drug called glenna kappavir, which was 524 00:32:46,559 --> 00:32:50,680 hailed as one of the biggest breakthroughs against AIDS for 525 00:32:50,759 --> 00:32:52,799 many years, which came out last year. So if you 526 00:32:52,839 --> 00:32:56,480 are perhaps, I'm sure UNA's would be delighted if you're 527 00:32:56,519 --> 00:32:57,720 able to look at that again. 528 00:32:58,759 --> 00:33:01,279 Speaker 1: Yes, but well, if if in fact this is true, 529 00:33:01,279 --> 00:33:02,720 which I doubt it is, then we'll affix it. 530 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:11,039 Speaker 2: Okay, Fine, So finally, political, your political influence. I wondered 531 00:33:11,279 --> 00:33:14,119 whether you have decided yet how much you're going to 532 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:21,000 spend on the upcoming midterms. Is it you spent a 533 00:33:21,039 --> 00:33:23,359 lot more money on the last US election than you 534 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:26,920 envisaged when you were speaking here three years ago. Are 535 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:29,680 you going to continue to spend at that kind of 536 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:32,079 level on future elections? 537 00:33:34,039 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: I think in terms of political spending, I'm going to 538 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:41,559 do a lot less in the future. 539 00:33:42,799 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 2: And why is that? 540 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: I think I've done enough? 541 00:33:50,119 --> 00:33:51,960 Speaker 2: Is it because of blowback? 542 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:57,559 Speaker 1: Well? If I see a reason to do political spending 543 00:33:57,599 --> 00:34:00,319 in the future, I will do it. An currently serious. 544 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 2: What about political influence beyond the US? How often do 545 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:07,039 you speak to President. 546 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:10,440 Speaker 1: I don't speak to President Putin. 547 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,039 Speaker 2: You've never spoken to President Putin. 548 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,119 Speaker 1: I was on a video caller with him once about 549 00:34:18,119 --> 00:34:18,800 five years ago. 550 00:34:19,519 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 2: That's the only that's the president. 551 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:25,039 Speaker 1: Oh, you must I get it. 552 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 2: Actually, i've heard you. I've heard you speak about it. 553 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:31,280 For example, in your West Point speech, you said, oh, 554 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:35,119 I challenged President Putin to uh to was it an 555 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:37,199 arm wrestle? And I know the Wall Street Journal has 556 00:34:37,199 --> 00:34:40,960 reported your reported conversations. If you're if you're saying they 557 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,119 haven't happened other than once, I'll take that as read. 558 00:34:44,519 --> 00:34:46,719 Speaker 1: Is there a worse publication on the face of the 559 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:49,159 earth than the Wall Street Journal? I wouldn't use that 560 00:34:49,199 --> 00:34:55,199 tolign up my cage for paragraphics that that that newspaper 561 00:34:55,360 --> 00:35:00,639 is the worst newspaper in the world. And there's you know, 562 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:03,760 if there's one newspaper that should be pro capitalist, it's 563 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:07,159 the one of Wall Street in the name, But it isn't. 564 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,960 So I have the very lowest opinion of the Wall 565 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:14,280 Street Journal. Absolutely answers, and you clearly have believed the 566 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,079 tripe that you've written, that you've written newspapers I. 567 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 2: Read, I read very widely, and I'm putting these questions 568 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,320 to you so that you have an opportunity to respond 569 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:25,119 to them. Which you are and for which we're all 570 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:27,960 grateful to hear. Your response is, okay, we are. We 571 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:28,679 are out of time. 572 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:33,159 Speaker 1: So you mentioned it challenging. I did so on on 573 00:35:33,199 --> 00:35:39,960 the X platform. I challenged Vladimir put over the I 574 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,239 didn't talk to him. That was a post on the 575 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:43,039 X platform. 576 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:45,840 Speaker 2: That's why. That's why I asked you. And you've and 577 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,840 you've clorified and explained. Thank you. That's that's why I 578 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:53,159 was asking whether you have had reported conversations and and 579 00:35:53,199 --> 00:35:55,480 you said, we have a. 580 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 1: Okay, legacy media lize. 581 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 2: Okay, listen. I thought I might give Grock the last 582 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:07,280 word because when I asked Groc what your hardest challenge is, 583 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:11,840 it said the strain of managing multiple high stake ventures 584 00:36:12,679 --> 00:36:17,199 made financial regulatory in public relations crises. And I wondered 585 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:22,119 whether you recognize that characterization and whether you do think 586 00:36:22,199 --> 00:36:25,559 that this is a pivotal year in your life. 587 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:32,039 Speaker 1: Well, every has been somewhat piddle, and this one's no different. 588 00:36:34,199 --> 00:36:38,480 So in terms of interesting things that probably our accomplish, 589 00:36:38,559 --> 00:36:47,519 this here there getting starships two be fully reusable, so 590 00:36:47,559 --> 00:36:51,719 that we catch both the booster and the ship, which 591 00:36:51,719 --> 00:36:54,119 will be the first fully reusable or little rocket ever 592 00:36:54,239 --> 00:36:57,559 in history, which would be a profound breakthrough as the 593 00:36:57,639 --> 00:37:01,760 essential breakthrough necessarily to make multi planetarian ultimately become a 594 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:07,039 space bearing civilization. We've got neural link which is now 595 00:37:07,119 --> 00:37:14,960 helped by patients restore capability using the left of the implant, 596 00:37:15,039 --> 00:37:17,480 where they're able to control a computer simply by thinking. 597 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:25,360 We'll be doing our first patient to restore blank just 598 00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,760 restore to restore site with our blind site implant, which 599 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,800 is the end of this year early next. In fact, 600 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:35,159 that that first patient might be in the U a E. 601 00:37:35,559 --> 00:37:37,199 Since we have a relationship with you a E and 602 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:43,880 the Cleveland Clinic clinic there. The I think what's running 603 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,920 on the AI front, we are close to what you 604 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:52,159 might call a g I or or or digital super intelligence, 605 00:37:54,079 --> 00:37:56,360 and I think we'll see that we are seeing an 606 00:37:56,360 --> 00:38:00,400 explosion in digital superintelligence here. And then we've got to HESLA, 607 00:38:00,519 --> 00:38:04,440 the what will be launching anti based autonomy basically self 608 00:38:04,519 --> 00:38:07,519 driving cars with no one in them in Austin next month. 609 00:38:08,280 --> 00:38:12,480 So it's it's a big year for sure. Many other 610 00:38:12,519 --> 00:38:16,199 things on the in the in the works too. Okay, 611 00:38:16,639 --> 00:38:18,719 I'm a technologist first and foremost. 612 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 2: Elon Musk, thank you very much for joining us here 613 00:38:21,719 --> 00:38:23,599 at Cutter Economic Forum. Thank you