7 ms·

Kevin Rose Interviews Elon Musk

151 points by olivercameron 14y ago

jamescrowe 14y ago
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.
ojiikun 14y ago
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 14y ago
  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!
BryanB55 14y ago
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.
jhuckestein 14y ago
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.
- carbocation 14y ago
  > 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.
  - jhuckestein 14y ago
    > More succinctly, Mr. Musk would have a much lesser impact as POTUS than as himself in his current role. There's no way to know for sure, but I'm curious about your reasoning. I'm not sure if I'd even agree with you. A technology and science focused president could do a lot of good, not least of all changing the mindset of people. Of course it'll be hard to get anything done with all the bipartisanism and opposition but that's a separate issue.
    - carbocation 14y ago
      > Of course it'll be hard to get anything done with all the bipartisanism and opposition but that's a separate issue. That's actually my point though, which is purely pragmatic. In a world where we don't have to account for politics, sure, I'd love to see what would happen if scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs were to govern. In a world where most of the time in government seems, to this observer, to be spent politicking, I'd rather see people like Mr. Musk doing his own thing.
      - pageld 14y ago
        Jimmy Carter was a nuclear engineer. But a lot of people didn't end up liking what he did. Some still say that he ruined the country. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what he should have/have not done, but I know a lot of people that despise the man. After stating that, I still would like to see more engineering types in leadership positions because engineers are more data driven. However, most engineers are too busy building things to run for office.
nikunjk 14y ago
"Actively seek out and listen very carefully to negative feedback" Great line from a great guy
giles 14y ago
@ 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?
- acomar 14y ago
  I hypothesize that it's because design is expensive, and the other manufacturers are unwilling to pay to design "low-end" cars.
- jarcoal 14y ago
  Maybe to give people a reason to buy high-end cars?
- enra 14y ago
  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_not_awards.html http://www.ted.com/talks/timothy_prestero_design_for_people_...
krsunny 14y ago
Kevin has come a long way in terms of interviewing since his interview with Trent Reznor. Nice job Kevin.
drawkbox 14y ago
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.
joshontheweb 14y ago
I saw him say on twitter that hyperloop is not a vac-tube as most have speculated https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/224406502188916739 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/224406502188916739. In this interview he says it could go as fast as the concord jet but on the ground and wouldn't need tracks. Any ideas what he may be describing?
- dave1619 14y ago
  Here's some speculation, http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/08/nextbigfuture-reader-tony-rusi-thinks.html http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/08/nextbigfuture-reader-tony-r...
  - joshontheweb 14y ago
    :/ mostly vac-tube speculation. I'm hoping someone has some other ideas.
    - omegant 14y ago
      He says the hyperloop is kind of electrical, ground level, supersonic concord plane. So maybe it is a kind of bullet train riding on the shockwave. But he must confine this shockwave somehow(if he want´s supersonic at ground level with out neighbors burning it down) , maybe with a tube?. Maybe this tube could provide the support for the solar panels, stabilize the flight of the "train"(using the shockwave to steer it?) and storage the energy as a kind of capacitor... This way you don´t need an actual very expensive sealed tube with vacuum in it , just some metal plates with enough form to deflect(and mute) the waves once the "plane" passes...(and serve as capacitors too). I am guessing all this with just one sentence so it must be way off :). Thanks to spaceX and Tesla he has more knowledge now of electrical engines, electricity storage and transport, high energy aerodynamics, etc... it must be something that combines all that somehow..
      - buro9 14y ago
        That's roughly where my mind was going too. You'd still need a safe way to stop the vehicle in the event of an earthquake and rupturing of the path down which the vehicle flies.
aklofas 14y ago
Damn it, I thought of Charlie Rose. Who is this Kevin blow-hard?
- w1ntermute 14y ago
  He founded Digg.
- simantel 14y ago
  As has been pointed out, he founded Digg. Here's a Charlie Rose interview: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10550 http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10550
keeptrying 14y ago
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 14y ago
  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.
  - keeptrying 14y ago
    Hmm that's true. I never thought of it like that. I wish someone would ask him about how he gauged the opportunity for his earlier ventures. And his core operational and strategic steps in starting a startup.
corkill 14y ago
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.
- pilgrim689 14y ago
  Not sure if you're aware, but the Tony Stark character from the IronMan movie was actually based off of Elon Musk! Edit: source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk#Interests http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk#Interests
Nrndr 14y ago
What were the biographies he mentioned?
- RenierZA 14y ago
  Franklin Autobiography: http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B00408AZOE http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin-Illust... Franklin Biography by Isaacson http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-ebook/dp/B000FBJG4U http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-ebook/dp/B000FBJG4U
hastur 14y ago
Why does the link lead to AllThingsD ?!?!?!?!? either point to the YouTube video itself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-s_3b5fRd8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-s_3b5fRd8 or to the show page at http://foundation.kr http://foundation.kr Don't give News Corp the traffic it doesn't deserve.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
patrickk 14y ago
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.
joshmattvander 14y ago
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.

151 points by olivercameron 14y ago

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.

ojiikun 14y ago

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 14y ago
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!

BryanB55 14y ago

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.

jhuckestein 14y ago

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.

carbocation 14y ago
> 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.
- jhuckestein 14y ago
  > More succinctly, Mr. Musk would have a much lesser impact as POTUS than as himself in his current role. There's no way to know for sure, but I'm curious about your reasoning. I'm not sure if I'd even agree with you. A technology and science focused president could do a lot of good, not least of all changing the mindset of people. Of course it'll be hard to get anything done with all the bipartisanism and opposition but that's a separate issue.
  - carbocation 14y ago
    > Of course it'll be hard to get anything done with all the bipartisanism and opposition but that's a separate issue. That's actually my point though, which is purely pragmatic. In a world where we don't have to account for politics, sure, I'd love to see what would happen if scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs were to govern. In a world where most of the time in government seems, to this observer, to be spent politicking, I'd rather see people like Mr. Musk doing his own thing.
    - pageld 14y ago
      Jimmy Carter was a nuclear engineer. But a lot of people didn't end up liking what he did. Some still say that he ruined the country. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what he should have/have not done, but I know a lot of people that despise the man. After stating that, I still would like to see more engineering types in leadership positions because engineers are more data driven. However, most engineers are too busy building things to run for office.

nikunjk 14y ago

"Actively seek out and listen very carefully to negative feedback" Great line from a great guy

giles 14y ago

@ 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?

acomar 14y ago
I hypothesize that it's because design is expensive, and the other manufacturers are unwilling to pay to design "low-end" cars.
jarcoal 14y ago
Maybe to give people a reason to buy high-end cars?
enra 14y ago
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_not_awards.html http://www.ted.com/talks/timothy_prestero_design_for_people_...

krsunny 14y ago

Kevin has come a long way in terms of interviewing since his interview with Trent Reznor. Nice job Kevin.

drawkbox 14y ago

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.

joshontheweb 14y ago

I saw him say on twitter that hyperloop is not a vac-tube as most have speculated https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/224406502188916739 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/224406502188916739. In this interview he says it could go as fast as the concord jet but on the ground and wouldn't need tracks. Any ideas what he may be describing?

dave1619 14y ago
Here's some speculation, http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/08/nextbigfuture-reader-tony-rusi-thinks.html http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/08/nextbigfuture-reader-tony-r...
- joshontheweb 14y ago
  :/ mostly vac-tube speculation. I'm hoping someone has some other ideas.
  - omegant 14y ago
    He says the hyperloop is kind of electrical, ground level, supersonic concord plane. So maybe it is a kind of bullet train riding on the shockwave. But he must confine this shockwave somehow(if he want´s supersonic at ground level with out neighbors burning it down) , maybe with a tube?. Maybe this tube could provide the support for the solar panels, stabilize the flight of the "train"(using the shockwave to steer it?) and storage the energy as a kind of capacitor... This way you don´t need an actual very expensive sealed tube with vacuum in it , just some metal plates with enough form to deflect(and mute) the waves once the "plane" passes...(and serve as capacitors too). I am guessing all this with just one sentence so it must be way off :). Thanks to spaceX and Tesla he has more knowledge now of electrical engines, electricity storage and transport, high energy aerodynamics, etc... it must be something that combines all that somehow..
    - buro9 14y ago
      That's roughly where my mind was going too. You'd still need a safe way to stop the vehicle in the event of an earthquake and rupturing of the path down which the vehicle flies.

aklofas 14y ago

Damn it, I thought of Charlie Rose. Who is this Kevin blow-hard?

w1ntermute 14y ago
He founded Digg.
simantel 14y ago
As has been pointed out, he founded Digg. Here's a Charlie Rose interview: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10550 http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10550

keeptrying 14y ago

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 14y ago
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.
- keeptrying 14y ago
  Hmm that's true. I never thought of it like that. I wish someone would ask him about how he gauged the opportunity for his earlier ventures. And his core operational and strategic steps in starting a startup.

corkill 14y ago

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.

pilgrim689 14y ago
Not sure if you're aware, but the Tony Stark character from the IronMan movie was actually based off of Elon Musk! Edit: source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk#Interests http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk#Interests

Nrndr 14y ago

What were the biographies he mentioned?

RenierZA 14y ago
Franklin Autobiography: http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B00408AZOE http://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Benjamin-Franklin-Illust... Franklin Biography by Isaacson http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-ebook/dp/B000FBJG4U http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-ebook/dp/B000FBJG4U

hastur 14y ago

Why does the link lead to AllThingsD ?!?!?!?!? either point to the YouTube video itself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-s_3b5fRd8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-s_3b5fRd8 or to the show page at http://foundation.kr http://foundation.kr Don't give News Corp the traffic it doesn't deserve.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

patrickk 14y ago

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.

joshmattvander 14y ago

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.