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The previous thread on this topic actually laid out a plausible general "Musk strategy" (edit: here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28243811 https://news.
by SideburnsOfDoom 5y ago
The previous thread on this topic actually laid out a plausible general "Musk strategy"
(edit: here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28243811 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28243811 )
IIRC it went some thing like:
1) Declare a ludicrous "pie in the sky" / "City on Mars" goal.
2) Use that to inspire, hire clever but starry eyed people who will work 7 days a week in service of that.
3) Iterate rapidly on do-able things in the general direction of the goal.
4) Reach some some point that's far from the original goal, but is still a huge achievement (e.g. re-usable rockets to LEO).
5) Profit!
6) Use the profits to start again, with another field that has synergy to the last (e.g. if you have electric cars, then add solar panels and battery packs)
In terms of humanoid robots this makes sense, the "10% to the goal" point is useful, and ties into the space plan. Robotics and space have synergies.
Note: original post calls the big goal "relatable, unoriginal" - this is a feature not a bug: to inspire, pick something that people already understand. Something that you don't have to explain.
- stonewhite 5y agoWhile Musk lost some credibility over cryptocurrency related topics, it is important that he manages to repackage these already "thought of" stuff in an almost Steve Jobs sort of fashion and insert into the public consciousness. Apart from the hiring, many companies start up just to get acquired by Tesla, or to compete with them. Which creates the much needed innovation by itself. I think he uses his media power for a good purpose even if he himself or his company cannot reach such goals, he creates the stepping stones in a future that I really like to see happen.