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Kevin Rose Interviews Elon Musk

151 points| olivercameron | 13 years ago |allthingsd.com | reply

54 comments

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[+] jhuckestein|13 years ago|reply
I can't think of a better role model for engineers than Elon Musk. Some good stuff from this video:

1) Doesn't want to speculate on Hyperloop before he's sure it can exist

2) Freely admits he was too shy to talk to anyone in the Netscape lobby when he went there fresh out of college looking for a job

3) Doesn't read a lot of general business books. Instead reads auto-/biographies of scientists and entrepreneurs.

Plus, he likes Burning Man (I love it but it's not for everyone) and casually mentions he had the idea for a "super-sonic vertical takeoff and landing plane" there. In comparison, I just got back from BM and my only work-related idea was that I should really put some more effort into my work.

So far I haven't heard any stories about him being an ass either, which is very reassuring for those of us who don't want to be like Steve Jobs. Even in this interview he seems reluctant to reveal too much information about people he didn't like working with.

I just wish people like him were more attracted to politics. I wonder if it's because nobody would elect people like Elon Musk or because those people avoid politics.

[+] relix|13 years ago|reply
In the book "The Paypal Wars", an account of the almost complete history of Paypal through the eyes of one of its employees, Elon Musk is painted as a stubborn, semi-ass. According to the book, when he was assigned as CEO after the merger, he wanted among other things, to replace the Paypal brand with the X.com brand. The whole company saw this as a bad idea because a lot of people knew and trusted friendly Paypal but not weird, porn-sounding X.com, but Elon apparently didn't care and just wanted "his" brand X.com to be the main look of the company, even after a lot of discussions and metrics showing this could end the company.

He ended up being replaced as CEO after a vote because of this whole debacle.

It's the only description of Musk that I've read in which he is painted in a negative way. Keep in mind the author might be biased against Elon because Elon was CEO of X.com which was "the enemy" of Paypal.

[+] carbocation|13 years ago|reply
> I just wish people like him were more attracted to politics. I wonder if it's because nobody would elect people like Elon Musk or because those people avoid politics.

I'm starting to think that I'm OK with the great scientists and entrepreneurs not dabbling in politics. I'd rather have a world where politicians keep doing what they're doing, so long as they don't ruin everything, and entrepreneurs keep doing the same. But maybe this is just a phase in my own thinking.

More succinctly, Mr. Musk would have a much lesser impact as POTUS than as himself in his current role.

[+] zmmz|13 years ago|reply
There is a nice scene in the film Before Sunset where the two main characters are discussing the fact that the female lead, Celine, is working for an NGO. Speaking about what she sees around her:

I see it in the people that do the real work, and what's sad in a way is that the people that are the most giving, hardworking, and capable of making this world better, usually don't have the ego and ambition to be a leader.

[+] joelrunyon|13 years ago|reply
Is there a biography of Elon Musk? I saw a few on amazon, but they don't seem to be well reviewed?

I know he's still young, but given his influence and intrigue, I would buy a solid biography of his in a second.

[+] greedo|13 years ago|reply
Competence in science and engineering doesn't equate to competence in politics and governance.
[+] kmfrk|13 years ago|reply
He's made comments about how the U.S. taxes are too low - albeit just in passing. Seems like he's not one to shy away from making political statements every now and then.
[+] keeptrying|13 years ago|reply
Ugh the same freaking questions for Elon.

Jeez can't someone ask him something new and different.

One I want to know is why he created Zip2 when he has always wanted to make an impact on the world? What was his thought process at the time? Did he think he'd make some quick money and move on or did he really think zip2 would change the world?

[+] zacharycohn|13 years ago|reply
IANEM (I Am Not Elon Musk), but in a world where most news and media organizations were NOT online... getting them online could be world changing. Can you imagine if the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc were still only delivered to your doorstep once a day?

That is pretty world changing.

[+] corkill|13 years ago|reply
Kind of puts in perspective what we are all working on/aiming for. Think a web app is hard, try building a car company or going to space. The dude is Tony Stark.
[+] ojiikun|13 years ago|reply
Most of the interview is old info that won't surprise anyone following Elon's career. The info on "Hyperloop" starts at around 18m20s into the video and is very brief.
[+] Lerc|13 years ago|reply
Tube with Hydrophobic inner surface. Liquid filled. Accelerated by solar energy, Storage solution is simply kinetic.

Liquid accelerates until the solar input meets equilibrium with the (extremely low) energy loss through friction with the surface.

Ride the flow dude!

[+] nikunjk|13 years ago|reply
"Actively seek out and listen very carefully to negative feedback" Great line from a great guy
[+] BryanB55|13 years ago|reply
Cool interview, I wish they would have gone more in depth. A Mixergy interview with Elon would be great.

I've always been most fascinated with people who start car companies. It's always been something that I would love to do as an entrepreneur and auto enthusiast but creating a car company has it's obvious barriers to entry.

[+] giles|13 years ago|reply
@ 15:30 Where Kevin asks Elon why other auto manufacturers make crap car designs.

I've always wondered about this and it's interesting that Elon states that most body styles cost (relatively) the same. Anyone have a further explanation for this?

[+] enra|13 years ago|reply
There was a TED talk[1] product design, or designing for manufacturing and distribution. I think the points were that:

1) These concept designs don't work that well in real conditions, are hard to manufacture or don't have a support network

2) People actually expect and want "regular" looking cars. The speaker made a example of hospital equipment which has to look fancy and complicated, because otherwise people won't trust it (and therefore, buy it).

I guess Tesla can work around the first point since, they're a new maker and don't have any previous investments, which allows them to try new ways of doing things.

They're pretty good at the second point as well, since don't make or sell "regular cars" anyway. Tesla Roadster is not an average car, it's a high-end sports car for techfreaks and I think the prospects for the sedan is also pretty much in early adopter audience.

[1] http://www.ted.com/talks/timothy_prestero_design_for_people_...

[+] acomar|13 years ago|reply
I hypothesize that it's because design is expensive, and the other manufacturers are unwilling to pay to design "low-end" cars.
[+] jarcoal|13 years ago|reply
Maybe to give people a reason to buy high-end cars?
[+] patrickk|13 years ago|reply
The advice about having a mindset of looking at the world via first principals rather than through assumptions and analogies was a great insight.

Musk then elaborated nicely, saying that people use the assumption that batteries have always been expensive so they always will be expensive. A better way to look at the problem is to check the London spot price for the individual battery components; cobalt, aluminium etc and deriving a price from that.

Are there books or resources where I can train this 'mental muscle' of looking at the world through first principals?

I should mention that don't have a physics or engineering background myself.

[+] drawkbox|13 years ago|reply
Such an inspiration to product engineers. He's very unique to be in so many new industries and execute so well, all focused on the product. With that, to be so level headed and ship focused without the hype. Elon's products are his marketing, first principle design is hard to beat. He was inspired by the US to come here and we need more like him to complete the cycle. Tesla as the company name is very fitting to the individual that started it.
[+] krsunny|13 years ago|reply
Kevin has come a long way in terms of interviewing since his interview with Trent Reznor. Nice job Kevin.
[+] joshmattvander|13 years ago|reply
This is unfortunately the same as every other interview. He has regurgitated all of this information a million times... I would love to see an interview that goes a little deeper.
[+] jamescrowe|13 years ago|reply
Hyperloop solar-powered high-speed land travel project will help in expanding boundaries of Silicon Valley. I know it will take long time but will be a great thing for now-in-highschool kids.