Silicon Valley has a solution for everything, but who do its ideas really serve? Every Thursday, Paris Marx is joined by a new guest to critically examine the tech industry, its thought leaders, and the worldview it spreads. They challenge the notion that tech alone can drive our world forward by showing that separating tech from politics has consequences for us all, especially the most vulnerable. But if tech won't save us, what will? This podcast isn't simply about tearing tech down; it also presents radical ideas for tech designed for human flourishing instead of surveillance, acquisitions, or to boost stock prices. A better world is possible, and so is better technology.
Can Tesla Survive Elon Musk? w/ Edward Niedermeyer
Paris Marx is joined by Edward Niedermeyer to discuss how Elon Musk got involved in Tesla, promised things he couldn’t deliver to raise funds, and where it goes next now that he’s becoming a more controversial figure.
Edward Niedermeyer is the author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors and a co-host of The Autonocast. Follow Ed on Twitter at @Tweetermeyer.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, support the show on Patreon, and sign up for the weekly newsletter.
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Also mentioned in this episode:
- California is suing Tesla over “rampant racism” at its Fremont factory, with another Black worker suing the company earlier this week.
- Tesla vehicles are continually found to have very poor build quality, and customers report the service experience can be frustrating too.
- Tesla allowed people to play games on vehicle touchscreens while driving in December 2021 before being pushed to remove the feature.
- Tesla tried to automate parts of the production process that other companies had already tried to automate — and it failed too.
- The number of people being killed by cars in the United States is increasing — particularly among pedestrians.
- US auto safety regulators haven’t kept up with changes in vehicle dangers.
- The New Yorker reported on the problems in the early years of Google’s self-driving project.
- Last year a customer in China protested at the Shanghai auto show over her Tesla’s brake failure, forcing regulators to take a closer look at the company.