Elon Musk's Misguided Approach: Software Isn't Everything
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The Illusion of Software Solutions
In today's rapidly advancing world, we are witnessing unprecedented transformations in fields like medicine, education, and technology—realities that our grandparents could scarcely imagine. However, Elon Musk has entered the conversation, cautioning us about the potential dangers that accompany such swift technological progress. Recently, he seems to believe that everything and everyone can be treated as if they were merely software. This mindset is flawed, Elon. It must change.
The Tesla Dilemma
Currently, Tesla is under scrutiny by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding serious issues with its Autopilot software. These are not trivial bugs; they involve severe malfunctions that cause vehicles to stray unexpectedly from their lanes.
One would expect such a significant fault to lead to a large-scale recall and perhaps an acknowledgment of error from any reputable car manufacturer. Yet, Musk's response is simply to issue an update—this is the same individual who frequently claims that full Autopilot will arrive "next year" through similar updates.
While treating cars as software is not inherently negative, the execution leaves much to be desired. Automobiles are not apps; their failures can result in immediate dangers to human life. Relying on over-the-air (OTA) updates reveals a significant misconception at Tesla: the belief that everything can be treated like software.
The Human Cost of Short-Term Thinking
Recently, I reflected on the short-term nature of layoffs at Tesla. This is not an isolated incident; Musk often regards his workforce as expendable, akin to software.
Just last week, I pondered the abrupt layoffs at Tesla, which seem to occur with the same coldness one might associate with debugging code. If a mistake is made in the firing process? Just rehire them, much like reinstalling an app.
This approach is deeply problematic. Employees are not mere lines of code; they are human beings deserving of respect and rights. Regardless of their circumstances—be it ramen-loving software engineers like myself—they are not disposable.
Conclusion
Not everything that can be updated should be treated as a line of code waiting to be optimized. Vehicles are not software, and employees are not mere resources to be discarded. This should be obvious, yet Elon Musk appears to overlook this reality. It’s imperative that both Tesla and Musk begin to understand the world as it truly is, and that is, fundamentally, NOT SOFTWARE.
About The Author
Professional Software Developer "The Secret Developer" shares insights on Twitter @TheSDeveloper and publishes articles regularly on Medium.com. The Secret Developer might just be an advanced program running on a 38DX.
Chapter 2: Conversations with Elon Musk
In this chapter, we explore two significant discussions featuring Elon Musk that shed light on his views regarding technology and its implications.
In the first video, titled "Rishi Sunak & Elon Musk: Talk AI, Tech & the Future," we delve into Musk's perspectives on artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society.
The second video, "Elon Musk on Advertisers, Trust and the 'Wild Storm' in His Mind | DealBook Summit 2023," provides insight into Musk's thoughts on trust and the challenges he faces in his ventures.