4 ms·

How does this work? The engineers work for Tesla, but Tesla isn’t buying Twitter? I was assuming Elon was, perhaps it’s a favour?

quantified 4y ago
You do what the boss says. Of course, these are the engineers that can't even program a car to drive by itself.
- ETH_start 4y ago
  You make it sound like it should be easy to program a car to drive by itself. It's a challenge approaching developing AGI in its difficulty.
- water8 4y ago
  How is your self driving car coming along?
aeternum 4y ago
He's likely paying them a contracting fee.
- jjeaff 4y ago
  It seems unlikely that the Tesla employment contract would allow outside consulting. But I could be wrong.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - HeckaSmart 4y ago
    He is paying Tesla.
  - skissane 4y ago
    Most likely, the contract is between Tesla and Musk’s Twitter acquisition vehicle (“X Holdings”), so it isn’t moonlighting, it is their day job. But, even if it is moonlighting - all employment contracts allow moonlighting with approval. Many firms are rather sparing in granting that approval - but it is a lot easier to say “yes” to an employee request if you know that’s what the CEO wants you to say.
vxxzy 4y ago
Twitter signs an agreement with Tesla’s new software consulting division!
- yumraj 4y ago
  So siphon Twitter revenue to boost Tesla profit and its share price. Not a bad idea.
  - xedeon 4y ago
    How much annual revenue does Twitter generate compared to Tesla?
    - zimpenfish 4y ago
      Internet suggests ~10% in 2021 (Twitter $5bn, Tesla ~$53bn)
      - lupire 4y ago
        You can't compare software services revenue to cars. COGS model is totally different.
        zimpenfish 4y ago
        I wasn't, I was just providing the numbers that GP asked for.
    - treeman79 4y ago
      https://companiesmarketcap.com/twitter/pe-ratio/ https://companiesmarketcap.com/twitter/pe-ratio/ Last P/E was -160. Which is really bad.
skissane 4y ago
SpaceX uses some Tesla parts (such as electric motors and batteries). Apparently, SpaceX has used Tesla engineers as consultants regarding those parts. Legally, Tesla isn't allowed to do "favours" for Musk's other businesses. From what I understand, SpaceX/etc pay Tesla the fair market value of all assistance received (both goods and services). And the cooperation has to (at a high level) be approved by the respective boards (both Tesla's and SpaceX's) while Musk is not in the room. Whatever assistance Tesla may have given Musk regarding Twitter would be subject to the same legal requirements.
coffeeblack 4y ago
Or both companies have accounting departments with experts who figure out the details, eg. what’s the amount in consulting fees that Tw pays to Tesla for this. Isn’t that obvious?

quantified 4y ago

You do what the boss says. Of course, these are the engineers that can't even program a car to drive by itself.

ETH_start 4y ago
You make it sound like it should be easy to program a car to drive by itself. It's a challenge approaching developing AGI in its difficulty.
water8 4y ago
How is your self driving car coming along?

aeternum 4y ago

He's likely paying them a contracting fee.

jjeaff 4y ago
It seems unlikely that the Tesla employment contract would allow outside consulting. But I could be wrong.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- HeckaSmart 4y ago
  He is paying Tesla.
- skissane 4y ago
  Most likely, the contract is between Tesla and Musk’s Twitter acquisition vehicle (“X Holdings”), so it isn’t moonlighting, it is their day job. But, even if it is moonlighting - all employment contracts allow moonlighting with approval. Many firms are rather sparing in granting that approval - but it is a lot easier to say “yes” to an employee request if you know that’s what the CEO wants you to say.

vxxzy 4y ago

Twitter signs an agreement with Tesla’s new software consulting division!

yumraj 4y ago
So siphon Twitter revenue to boost Tesla profit and its share price. Not a bad idea.
- xedeon 4y ago
  How much annual revenue does Twitter generate compared to Tesla?
  - zimpenfish 4y ago
    Internet suggests ~10% in 2021 (Twitter $5bn, Tesla ~$53bn)
    - lupire 4y ago
      You can't compare software services revenue to cars. COGS model is totally different.
      - zimpenfish 4y ago
        I wasn't, I was just providing the numbers that GP asked for.
  - treeman79 4y ago
    https://companiesmarketcap.com/twitter/pe-ratio/ https://companiesmarketcap.com/twitter/pe-ratio/ Last P/E was -160. Which is really bad.

skissane 4y ago

SpaceX uses some Tesla parts (such as electric motors and batteries). Apparently, SpaceX has used Tesla engineers as consultants regarding those parts. Legally, Tesla isn't allowed to do "favours" for Musk's other businesses. From what I understand, SpaceX/etc pay Tesla the fair market value of all assistance received (both goods and services). And the cooperation has to (at a high level) be approved by the respective boards (both Tesla's and SpaceX's) while Musk is not in the room. Whatever assistance Tesla may have given Musk regarding Twitter would be subject to the same legal requirements.

coffeeblack 4y ago

Or both companies have accounting departments with experts who figure out the details, eg. what’s the amount in consulting fees that Tw pays to Tesla for this. Isn’t that obvious?