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☆ Amazon driver shares viral TikTok of the company's AI system that tracks her movements
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An Amazon delivery driver posted a TikTok describing how the company's AI-powered cameras work. An Amazon spokesperson said the system has helped increase driver safety. I can't touch the center console or else that is a driver distracted violation." The Amazon driver said that the vehicle also monitors how often she buckles her seatbelt and if she doesn't buckle it enough she could face a "seatbelt violation." "So everyone who works for Amazon pretty much hates those little things, but we have to remember it's just for safety," the Amazon driver said in the TikTok video.

☆ The Boring Company CEO who slept at Twitter's headquarters with his newborn baby is rumored to be Twitter's next CEO, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter employees are speculating that The Boring Company CEO Steve Davis could replace Elon Musk as CEO, Platformer reported. The publication said that Davis helped orchestrate a round of layoffs at the social media company that impacted about 200 people this week. The Boring Company CEO spent the first few weeks after his baby was born sleeping in a makeshift bedroom in the office, along with his newborn and partner, according to the report. Before he became CEO of The Boring Company, Davis worked with Musk at SpaceX. Tesla's stock has fallen over 37% since he announced his plans to buy the social media company on April 14.

☆ Former Google staffer says she's gone from viewing the company culture as 'paradise' to 'quite grim'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ex-Googler Claire Stapleton said her perspective on Google's culture has shifted dramatically over the years. Stapleton said she was once a "cheerleader" for Google, but now she sees its culture as "quite grim." In 2018, Stapleton, organized a protest, walking off the job along with about 20,000 Google workers in response to the company's handling of sexual harassment allegations. Now nearly four years later, Stapleton says she sees Google's culture as "quite grim," especially since the company laid off about 12,000 employees in February. Stapleton is one of several former Google workers to speak out against the company in recent months.

☆ ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has hired tons of former Google and Meta employees, new data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Last year, the company hired several Google staff to do "instrumental" work on ChatGPT. Data from LeadGenius and Punks & Pinstripes shows that a number of the company's 200-plus employees came from Alphabet, the parent company of Google and AI research lab DeepMind. OpenAI currently employs about 59 ex-Google employees and about 34 former Meta staff, according to the data. Data from Lead Genius and Punks & Pinstripes shows ex-Google staff make up a large portion of the company's staff. The Information previously reported that OpenAI hired several Google employees to do "instrumental" work on ChatGPT in the months leading up to its November launch.

☆ See the second car Tesla made: an orange-striped Roadster with 'Mr. Tesla' plates that may be worth more than $200,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard owns three Teslas, including a Roadster he drives every day. Eberhard said he owns the second Tesla Roadster ever made. "I've been driving my Roadster continuously since I bought it," Eberhard told Insider in an interview. He also sent another Tesla Roadster into space on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Tesla cofounder said he occasionally takes the Roadster out for car shows, including the annual Roadster Rally.

☆ Tesla's first CEO says Elon Musk never replied to a congratulatory note he sent — and hasn't spoken to him in 14 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Martin Eberhard said he sent Elon Musk a note after SpaceX's first rocket launched into orbit. The Tesla cofounder said he never heard back from Musk and hasn't spoken to him in about 14 years. "I actually sent him a congratulatory note when his first rocket successfully made it to space, but I got no reply." The Tesla cofounder has said Musk forced him out of the company and had Tesla's board vote him out as CEO behind his back in 2007. About two years later, after Musk started calling himself a Tesla founder, Eberhard sued Musk, alleging libel and slander.

☆ Ex-Tesla CEO says the company's culture might be 'nicer' if he had stuck around: 'I'm not into random firings'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard said the carmaker's company culture might be "nicer" if he'd stayed. He said he's not into "random firings," a practice Musk has denied engaging in in the past. "I'm a believer of treating employees with respect and I'm not into random firings and things like that," Eberhard told Insider in an interview. Eberhard previously told Insider that Musk and Tesla's board had met behind his back and had voted to replace him as CEO. Musk became Tesla's CEO in 2008 and has become virtually synonymous with the brand's image in recent years.

☆ Tesla cofounder's advice to EV startups: Don't try to be Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard says EV companies shouldn't try to compete head-on with Tesla. He said EV startups should try to find their own market and avoid launching Tesla-like models. "My advice to anybody who wants to get into the EV space now is don't try to compete head-on with Tesla," Eberhard told Insider in an interview. Lucid confirmed that Eberhard worked at the startup for a short period in 2015 but declined to comment on his departure. After leaving Tesla, Eberhard served for about two years as the director of EV development at Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory.

☆ Tesla cofounder calls Autopilot and FSD software 'crap' that could risk the carmaker's future
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard said he's "not a big fan" of autonomous cars. The Tesla cofounder said it's a "mistake to think of a car as a software platform." The Lotus Elise was a two-seater convertible that the British car company Lotus Cars first sold in 1996. The Tesla cofounder said that while he appreciates "safety-oriented systems" like driver-assist features, he's "not a big fan" of autonomous driving. Last year, the billionaire said the carmaker's self-driving software is the difference between Tesla being worth a lot of money and Tesla being worth almost nothing.

☆ Elon Musk used to scream if he wasn't mentioned in an article about Tesla, the company's first CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard said Elon Musk used to "scream" if he was not cited in Tesla stories. Musk didn't return requests for comment. In an interview with Insider, Eberhard said he and Musk were "congenial" until his last few months at the company. "His behavior changed dramatically as soon as we started having press about Tesla," Eberhard told Insider in an interview. He previously told Insider that Musk and Tesla's board met behind his back and voted to replace him as CEO.

☆ Ousted Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard sounds off on Elon Musk, how the company has changed, and the EV wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

But Eberhard and Musk butted heads, and Musk ousted Eberhard from his CEO role in 2007. Musk said that Eberhard was holding up production of Tesla's first car, the Roadster, and that Eberhard was responsible for other operational issues. And the proof is for the first time ever in decades we built a car company successfully. "His behavior changed dramatically as soon as we started having press about Tesla," Eberhard said. Musk has said the company "is as much a software company as it is a hardware company."

☆ Tesla cofounder says he was 'basically unemployable' and out of money for 2 years after being ousted from the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Tesla cofounder said he was out of money and "basically unemployable" after he left the carmaker. Martin Eberhard was ousted as CEO of Tesla by Elon Musk and left the company in 2007. "After I left Tesla, I was basically unemployable for about two years because of the intellectual-property agreement I had with Tesla and with Tesla being as litigious as they are," Eberhard told Insider. The Tesla cofounder lost his role as CEO of Tesla about three years after Elon Musk began investing in the electric-car maker. Eberhard previously told Insider that Musk and Tesla's board had met behind his back and voted to replace him as CEO.

☆ Meta signals more layoffs could be coming after 'thousands' of workers are reportedly given low performance reviews
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta gave about 10% of its staff performance reviews indicating they were underperforming, WSJ reported. The performance reviews signal that Meta could be gearing up for another round of layoffs. Meta let go of about 11,000 workers late last year and dubbed 2023 the "Year of Efficiency." A Meta spokesperson told Insider that the performance reviews are intended to incentivize employees, while also giving them actionable feedback. "Nothing about this year's performance review process has changed or is different than what we've already communicated to employees," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

☆ Tesla workers reportedly say the company tracks their keystrokes to make sure they're actively working, the latest complaint of workplace monitoring
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Grace Kay | Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla workers in New York say their keystrokes are monitored to ensure they're actively working, Bloomberg reported. The workers emailed Elon Musk to inform him they were campaigning for a union, the publication said. Insider reported last year that Tesla began tracking workers' office attendance using an automated system to track when staff badged in or out of its offices. Last year, The New York Times reported that about eight out of the ten largest private US employers track staff productivity. Do you work for Tesla or have some insight to share?

☆ I was a Tesla fan but I feel like I've been duped by Elon Musk's self-driving claims. I'll never buy another Tesla again.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Vivek Wadhwa once called himself a friend of Musk and a Tesla fan, but he sees things differently now. Wadhwa loves his Tesla, but he says he'll never buy another one again. Before that, we had drinks and I said, "Tell me the craziest thing you're going to do." He said, "I'm going to retire on Mars." I've been waiting for six years for this car to drive itself and I know it's never going to happen.

☆ Ex-Meta exec had 'real issues' with the company's decisions and spending: 'I thought large fractions were really poorly spent'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Former Meta VR exec John Carmack said he had "real issues" with the company's plans and spending. "I was having some real issues at Meta with large-scale strategic directions," Carmack said in an interview with the business publication, Dallas Innovates. "I'm sure you've seen some of the headlines about how much money they're spending, and I thought large fractions were really poorly spent." He had previously been Oculus' CTO. Zuckerberg has taken several strides in recent months to cut back on company spending — including embracing his role as "Chopper-in-Chief," Insider's Kali Hays reported.

☆ Elon Musk is the 'enemy' inside Tesla, a top Wall Street analyst warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Houchois called Musk "the enemy" inside of Tesla, in an interview with Yahoo Finance. "We've published research many times in the past where we say the enemy is inside of Tesla," Houchois said in an interview with Yahoo Finance after the carmaker's earnings call. So he is the person who is going to decide, can I do SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter?" Some Tesla investors have also been critical of Musk as Tesla's stock has plunged over 20% since the Tesla CEO took Twitter private in late October. Last month, Tesla investor and former self-proclaimed "Elon fanboy" Leo Koguan said on Twitter that Musk has "abandoned" the company and Tesla needs a new CEO.

☆ Tesla owners are angry after paying full price before Elon Musk instituted big discounts. A YouTuber started a petition for free FSD or Supercharging.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla owners are angry after missing out on a deal that could have saved them up to $13,000. A YouTuber started a petition asking Tesla to offer owners who missed the price cuts free FSD. "I started the petition because I believe Tesla did an injustice," Wang told Insider. Tesla owners have been expressing their displeasure with the carmaker for weeks. Some people who claim to be Tesla owners have taken to social media to voice their anger with the electric-car maker.

☆ Elon Musk's private jet hasn't flown to SpaceX's main launch site since he bought Twitter, jet-tracker claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk's private jet hasn't flown to Starbase in almost three months, per jet-tracking data. He has flown to airports near SpaceX HQ in LA, however, and could have used its planes to fly to Starbase. Prior to Musk's Twitter acquisition, Brownsville, Texas was one of the private jet's most frequent destinations, per Sweeney's flight data. However, Musk's private jet has flown to airports near SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California since the Twitter acquisition, including Los Angeles International Airport, Sweeney's data shows. After purchasing Twitter, Musk said his workload jumped from "70 to 80 hours a week to probably 120."

☆ A Tesla driver took a 6,392-mile road trip using Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software — there were some hiccups
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla driver Tim Heckman drove 6,392 miles primarily using Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. He said Autopilot has gotten "worse" over the years and FSD was "exceptionally poor outside of California." But, the Tesla driver said the software has been a "lifesaver" when it comes to long road trips. In December, Tim Heckman drove a Model S Plaid from Los Angeles to Pennsylvania and back, using the autonomous software for 99% of the journey, an experience he documented on Twitter. "It's kind of like driving with a 15 or 16-year-old driver sometimes," Heckman said of using FSD in city streets outside of California.

☆ Vimeo cuts 11% of its staff in layoffs, CEO cites 'uncertain economic environment' in email to employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Vimeo is laying off 11% of its workforce, a company spokesperson confirmed. Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud told staff in an email that the workforce reduction is an attempt to address deteriorating economic conditions. In an email to staff, Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud said the layoffs would impact 11% of the company's workforce. In the email, Sud said employees would be notified via individual emails and an invitation to meet with their team leader and a member of human resources. A Vimeo spokesperson told Insider the layoffs will help the company address economic concerns.

☆ Meet the harbor pilots who make $434,000 a year, face high fatality rates, and are responsible for guiding hulking cargo ships into ports
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Harbor pilots are the highest paid city employees, but face a one in 20 chance of dying on the job. Harbor pilots are some of the highest-paid municipal employees and represent a crucial part of a shipment's journey. "I've been chased up the ladder by the boat," Craig Flinn, another harbor pilot, tells Mims. A harbor pilot's job is complete once the ship is safely tucked away in its berth. Ultimately, harbor pilots represent a little known, but crucial part of the supply-chain.

☆ Hundreds of people are applying for a chance to work at Elon Musk's 'hardcore' Twitter 2.0 — even after the billionaire laid off half the company's workforce
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hundreds of people have applied to Twitter job postings on LinkedIn. Musk laid off about 50% of Twitter's workforce in November and has asked remaining staff to work "hardcore." Just last month, Elon Musk laid off thousands — about half of the company's workforce — and over 2,000 more employees quit. The new job postings come only a few weeks after thousands of employees left the company. Twitter employees might also be able to benefit from stock in the company.

☆ Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet is reportedly raising prices in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

SpaceX is increasing its prices for Starlink, according to a Financial Times report. The cost of Starlink terminals in Ukraine has nearly doubled over the past year, per FT. Similarly, the cost for the Starlink terminals will rise about $200 per device, from $500 to $700, FT reported. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk first sent Starlink terminals to Ukraine in February, within days of Russia's attack on the nation. In October, SpaceX told the Pentagon it could not continue to pay for Starlink in Ukraine, according to a report from CNN.

☆ Elon Musk slams Tesla founder Martin Eberhard in response to a tweet about the company's origin: he 'could have risked his money, but was unwilling to do so'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Eberhard told Insider Musk's comments on Tesla's history were "typical" of the billionaire. "Not one sentence of that tweet is true," Eberhard told Insider. In 2009, Eberhard sued Musk, alleging libel and slander because Musk started calling himself Tesla's founder. "I was thinking that I should do what every guy does and buy a sports car," Eberhard told Insider in 2014. Eberhard told Baer it was the first time he butted heads with Musk.

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