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CARSON CITY, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 4: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, addresses an enthusiastic crowd at the Nevada State Capitol on September 4, 2014. Alongside Governor Sandoval, Musk revealed plans for the Tesla Gigafactory, a groundbreaking battery factory in Nevada poised to power electric vehicles and generate 6,500 jobs. (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)

Tesla Time Capsule Revisiting Elon Musk’s Visionary Talks

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Gigafactory Nevada: Elon Musk’s 2014 Triumph!

Welcome to Tesla Time Capsule: Revisiting Musk’s Visionary Talks, where we pause for a moment to remember the pivotal moments that shaped Tesla through the lens of Elon Musk’s great talks. Our journey begins in September 2014, when Elon stood outside Nevada’s state capitol in Carson City to announce the Tesla Gigafactory—a daring move that would redefine electric vehicles. With a standing ovation echoing behind him, Elon unveiled a vision for a massive, sustainable battery factory to power affordable EVs. Tesla’s mission to transform the world was palpable. This wasn’t just about building a factory; it was about betting on a future where clean energy wins. In this article, we’ll look at the context, break down Elon’s speech, and explore why the Gigafactory became a cornerstone of Tesla’s rise.

Context: Why Nevada, Why 2014?

In 2014, Tesla was no longer a scrappy startup but a strong player with the Model S gaining traction. Yet, to deliver a mass-market electric vehicle—like the upcoming Model 3—Tesla needed batteries, and lots of them. Lithium-ion battery production was dominated by Asia, and costs were a barrier to affordability. Enter the Nevada Gigafactory: a audacious plan to build the world’s largest battery plant, , and control Tesla’s destiny.

Nevada wasn’t the only contender. At the time, states like Texas, New Mexico. and Arizona offered hefty incentives, but Nevada’s agility, business-friendly environment, and Governor Brian Sandoval’s support tipped the scales. On September 4, 2014, Musk took the stage to explain why Nevada was the perfect home for this game-changing project, captivating a crowd eager for economic and environmental progress.

Elon’s Vision: A “Get-Things-Done” State

Gratitude and Nevada’s Edge Elon opened with heartfelt thanks, setting a collaborative tone:

“Thank you for coming. I’d like to start by thanking Governor Sandoval and the Nevada Legislature for their support. I think people should know that this was not about the biggest incentive package; it wasn’t just about the incentives.”

Elon explained what made Nevada stand out:

“What the people of Nevada have created is a state where you can be very agile, where you can do things quickly and get things done. It is a real ‘get-things-done’ state. That was a fundamental and important part of the decision.”

This wasn’t just flattery. Musk emphasized Nevada’s ability to move fast—crucial for a factory that had to be ready to produce battery packs by the Model 3’s launch. His words resonated with the crowd, framing Nevada as a partner in Tesla’s mission.

The Gigafactory’s Purpose: Powering Tesla’s Mission

A Factory for the Future Elon didn’t mince words about the high stakes:

“This factory is very important to the future of Tesla because, without it, we can’t produce the mass-market car. In order to produce a high-volume, affordable, compelling electric car, which has been the mission of Tesla from the beginning, the Gigafactory is vital.”

This was Tesla’s moonshot: a factory to make EVs accessible to millions, not just the elite. Elon underscored timing and efficiency:

“We had to ask where we would have high confidence that this factory would be ready on time, so that when we are ready to produce the vehicle, the factory is ready to produce the battery packs. That was truly the most important thing.”

By tying the Gigafactory to Tesla’s core mission, Elon made it clear: this wasn’t just a factory—it was the key to a sustainable future.

The Scale: Why “Gigafactory”?

Bigger Than the Rest Elon’s art deco flair for the dramatic shone when he explained the name:

“Perhaps it’s worth highlighting the sheer scale of the Gigafactory and why we even call it the Gigafactory. It will be the biggest lithium-ion battery factory in the world, surpassing the combined production capability of all lithium-ion factories in China, Korea, Japan, and elsewhere.”

This wasn’t hyperbole. The Gigafactory aimed to produce more batteries than the entire global output of 2013, a staggering ambition that left the crowd buzzing. Musk’s vision wasn’t just about meeting demand—it was about rewriting the rules of battery production.

CARSON CITY, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 4: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, addresses an enthusiastic crowd at the Nevada State Capitol on September 4, 2014. Alongside Governor Sandoval, Musk revealed plans for the Tesla Gigafactory, a groundbreaking battery factory in Nevada poised to power electric vehicles and generate 6,500 jobs. (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)
CARSON CITY, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 4: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, addresses an enthusiastic crowd at the Nevada State Capitol on September 4, 2014. Alongside Governor Sandoval, Musk revealed plans for the Tesla Gigafactory, a groundbreaking battery factory in Nevada poised to power electric vehicles and generate 6,500 jobs. (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)

A Factory with Flair: Design and Sustainability

Art Deco Diamond in the Desert Elon revealed a surprising detail: the Gigafactory would be as beautiful as it was functional:

“We are taking care to ensure that it looks good and fits in with its surroundings. The factory will be shaped like a diamond. To fit better into the environment, we shaped it like a diamond, and it is aligned to true north so that we can map out where the equipment will be by GPS.”

The diamond shape wasn’t just aesthetic—it minimized environmental disruption. Elon’s nod to “romantic” practicality charmed the audience:

“I think it sounds kind of romantic to say it’s shaped like a diamond and aligned to true north, but there are practical reasons for it as well.”

CARSON CITY, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 4: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, addresses an enthusiastic crowd at the Nevada State Capitol on September 4, 2014. Alongside Governor Sandoval, Musk revealed plans for the Tesla Gigafactory, a groundbreaking battery factory in Nevada poised to power electric vehicles and generate 6,500 jobs. (Photo by Max Whittaker/Getty Images)

Self-Sustaining Power

Sustainability was non-negotiable:

“This factory will produce its own energy through a combination of geothermal, solar, and wind power. It will generate all the energy it needs, making it a self-contained factory.”

This commitment to zero-carbon energy underscored Tesla’s ethos, earning cheers from an environmentally conscious crowd.

An Invitation to Witness History

Open to the Public Elon closed with a promise:

“We’re going to ensure that people can visit it, look at it, and check it out because it will be worth seeing.”

This wasn’t just a factory—it was a symbol of progress, open for the world to see. The crowd’s standing ovation reflected their excitement and he kept his word, with close friend John Stringer visiting the factory just a week ago!

Postscript: The Gigafactory’s Lasting Impact

The 2014 Gigafactory announcement was more than a speech—it was a turning point. By 2025, Gigafactory Nevada has become a powerhouse, producing batteries for millions of Tesla vehicles and energy storage systems like Powerwall. It sparked economic growth in Nevada, creating thousands of jobs and proving Musk’s bet was right. This talk showcased Elon at his best: visionary, practical and brief, and unrelentingly ambitious. As we look back, it’s clear the Gigafactory wasn’t just about batteries—it was about building a future where clean energy is the norm. What part of your life has Tesla made better? Feel free to share your thoughts with others on X, I often discuss these historical pieces with my kids/family over dinner, etc. I’ll be writing more Tesla Time Capsule stories in the future.

More from Tesla Time Capsule

Explore other moments in Tesla’s history through Elon Musk’s visionary talks:

  • The Gigafactory Gamble: Elon Musk’s 2014 Nevada Triumph (You are here)
  • Coming Soon: Tesla’s Next Milestone (Stay tuned for my next historical Elon talk about Tesla!)
A primarily young audience of students gather to intently listen to Elon Musk at West Point. Elon spoke at on August 16, 2024, during a fireside chat with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, as part of the U.S. Military Academy’s convocation.

Elon at West Point: Drones, Space, and Leadership Lessons (Part 3)

Gail AlfarLeave a comment

Welcome to Part 3 of my series on Elon’s August 16, 2024, West Point talk, released on February 6, 2025. If you missed the earlier parts, you can catch up here: Part 1 and Part 2.

In this final installment, Brigadier General Shane Reeves explores in detail the future of warfare, the role of space, and Elon’s approach to leadership and innovation.

Drones and the Battlefield: A New Reality

Reeves asked Elon about integrating technology with human pilots and its implications for warfare. Elon responded:

“At the front of the battle line, it’s just going to be drones. Any humans caught in that crossfire are going to be killed.”

Elon elaborated, painting a vivid picture of drone warfare:

“If you’ve got drones constantly scanning—thousands of them, maybe a million, like Ukraine’s planning—you don’t want to be there trying to take out drones with an assault rifle. It’s not a good situation.”

He proposed an unexpected countermeasure:

“If you go fully analog with mechanical controls and do an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) blast, you could take out all electronics. A fully analog fighter plane could be a role—like a Tom Cruise movie where he flies an analog aircraft, and all the drones fall from the sky.”

Elon Musk inspires West Point graduates, "Try. Just try thinking of interesting ideas. Read about many fields and cross-fertilize ideas. For example, SpaceX used automotive mass-manufacturing techniques, and Tesla applied space industry materials optimization. That's a superpower."
Elon Musk inspires West Point graduates, “Try. Just try thinking of interesting ideas. Read about many fields and cross-fertilize ideas. For example, SpaceX used automotive mass-manufacturing techniques, and Tesla applied space industry materials optimization. That’s a superpower.”

Building Trust with Industry

Reeves raised concerns about industry reluctance to develop technology for the Department of Defense, emphasizing the need for trust with the industrial base and society. Elon, a solid supporter of the military, responded:

“I’m very pro-military, to be clear.” (Met with loud applause.)

He drew parallels to historical shifts:

“If there’s a significant conflict, the US industrial base will switch quickly to military production, just as it did in World War II. Will it be quick enough? I don’t know. AI and drones—that’s the future of warfare.”

Space: The Ultimate High Ground

On the role of space in warfare, Elon was emphatic:

“Space is the ultimate high ground. It’s big. Real big. Earth is like a tiny dust mote floating in space.”

He stressed the importance of space-based communications:

“Ground-based communications—fiber optics, cell towers—will be destroyed. All you’ve got are analog radios and space-based data communications. GPS is easily jammed because it’s a weak signal. A next-generation positioning system is critical.”

Elon also touched on space-based weaponry:

“You could have kinetic weapons—like tungsten cannonballs, known as rods from God—or space-based lasers. Starlink technically has lasers, but they’re low-powered… for now.” (Laughter)

Leadership: The Cavalry Captain Must Ride

Reeves connected military history to Elon’s businesses, asking about the traits he seeks in leaders. Elon emphasized technical competence:

“If someone’s leading a complex engineering project, they must be good at engineering. They don’t need to be the best, but they must be competent. It’s like a cavalry captain who can’t ride a horse—great in every way, but falls off in battle. That’s not inspiring.”

Elon critiqued leadership mismatches:

“Take Boeing’s CEO—he’s got a degree in accounting. If you’re running an airplane company, you should know how airplanes work, how they’re designed. That’s vital.”

Fostering Innovation

Reeves asked how Elon cultivates innovative intuition. Elon suggested:

“Try. Just try thinking of interesting ideas. Read about many fields and cross-fertilize ideas. For example, SpaceX used automotive mass-manufacturing techniques, and Tesla applied space industry materials optimization. That’s a superpower.”

On balancing caution and risk, Elon said:

“If you’re not failing sometimes, you’re not trying hard enough. Nobody bats 1000, but you can’t bat zero either.”

Elon’s First-Principles Algorithm

Elon shared a practical framework for problem-solving:

“1. Make the requirements less dumb. Even if they come from the smartest person, they’re still dumb. Military procurement often starts with excessive requirements. 2. Delete parts or process steps. If you’re not adding back 10% of what you deleted, you haven’t deleted enough. 3. Optimize what remains. 4. Go faster. 5. Automate—only after the above steps.”

He cautioned against common pitfalls:

“Smart engineers often optimize things that shouldn’t exist—like perfecting a cloth biplane when we need jet airplanes.”

Elon gives great advice on fostering learning: “Curiosity. Read as much as possible, learn across fields, and apply critical thinking to everything you’re told.”

Curiosity: The Key Attribute

As the interview closed, Reeves asked Elon for the one attribute critical for future officers. Elon’s answer was succinct:

“Curiosity. Read as much as possible, learn across fields, and apply critical thinking to everything you’re told.”

Elon concluded with a powerful metaphor:

“America is like Atlas holding up the free world, and you—the graduating class—are the arms of Atlas.”

Applause erupts.

My Thoughts

Elon’s West Point talk was a masterclass in his visionary thinking, he made sense of the reality of modern warfare and combines it with practical leadership expectations.

IMPORTANT: Elon’s emphasis on drones and space as the future of conflict is a wake-up call for military strategists.

NOTE: Elon’s insistence on curiosity and first-principles problem-solving resonates most. Our world is rapidly changing, and Elon’s call for leaders who are technically competent and relentlessly curious is a blueprint for success—not just in warfare, but in any field.

As you reflect on his words, perhaps you will be struck by the urgency of adapting to this new era while staying grounded in critical thinking and innovation.

Elon says, “Communications is essential, it is actually very important to have space-based communications that are or that cannot be intercepted, which is Starlink. It is what Starlink offers"

Elon Musk’s 2024 West Point Talk Part 2: Drones, AI, and the Future

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This is the second part of my series on Elon Musk’s August 16, 2024, West Point talk, released February 6, 2025.

Geared towards students, the discussion with Brigadier General Shane Reeves explored national defense and technology.

In Part 1, Elon emphasized drone warfare, noting U.S. technological strength but low production rates, stating,

“Well I think we probably need to invest in drones, the United States is strong in terms of technology of the items, but, the production rate is low, so, it is a small number of units, relatively speaking, but I think that basically there is a production rate issue with the rate, like if you say how fast can you make drones, imagine there is a Drone conflict. The outcome of that Drone conflict will be based on: How many drones does each side have in that particular skirmish times the kill ratio… so let’s say that the United States would have a set of drones that have a high kill ratio, but then, the other side has far more drones. If you have got a 2 to 1 kill ratio, and the other side has four times as many drones, you are still going to lose.”

Ukrainian Drone Production and Aging

Reeves explained that a recent report quoted Zelensky saying Ukraine will produce 1 million drones by 2025. He then pivoted to ask Elon if he had solved aging.

Elon stated that he had not solved aging, and then added, “I wonder if we should solve aging?” He added, “How long do you want Putin and Kim Jong-un to live?”

Starlink’s Role in Warfare

Reeves shifted to the importance of communications in warfare, prompting Elon to discuss Starlink: “Communications is essential, it is actually very important to have space-based communications that are or that cannot be intercepted, which is Starlink. It is what Starlink offers. Starlink is the backbone of the Ukrainian military communication system because it can’t be blocked by the Russians. It is the only thing that cannot be blocked. So, on the front lines, all of the fiber connections are cut, all the cell towers are blown up, all of the geostationary satellite links are jammed. The only thing that isn’t jammed is Starlink, so it is the only thing. And then, GPS is also jammed. GPS signal is very faint and Starlink can offer location capability as well so it is a strategic advantage that is very significant. And, when you try to communicate with drones, the drones need to like basically, they need to know where they are, and they need to receive instructions. So if you don’t have communications and positioning, then the drones don’t work. So that’s quite important. That is essential.”

Future of AI and Drones

Reeves asked if there will still need to be communication between people and drones. Elon said, “There’s a difference between right now, versus where things will be in 10 years.” Sighing, Elon says he’s looking at the future with some trepidation. He says he has to have some deliberate suspension of disbelief to sleep sometimes. He thinks we’re headed into a pretty wild future. Elon is a naturally optimistic person, but “AI is going to be so good, including localized AI, but at the current rates, you’ll have something that is sort of Grok-level AI and it can probably be run on a drone and so, you could literally say, this is the equipment that the drone needs to destroy, and then it will go into that thing, and it will recognize what equipment needs to be destroyed, and will take it out.”

Elon says, “Communications is essential, it is actually very important to have space-based communications that are or that cannot be intercepted, which is Starlink. It is what Starlink offers"
Elon says, “Communications is essential, it is actually very important to have space-based communications that are or that cannot be intercepted, which is Starlink. It is what Starlink offers”

AI Surpassing Human Control

Reeves asks Elon if he thinks that AI will quickly surpass the human’s ability to control. Elon answers,

“Yes, I mean, <very long pause> I’d like to say no, but the answer is yes.”

Reeves asks how long before the AI surpasses the ability for the human to influence how it’s working?

Elon explained that he does think humans will be able to influence how it’s working for a long time, “This is an esoteric subject, that really goes into pretty wild speculation, to some degree. I think that the AI will want humans as a source of Will. So, if you think of how the human mind works, there is the limbic system, and the cortex, you have sort of the base instincts, and sort of the thinking, and the planning part of your brain, but you also have a tertiary layer, which is all of the electronics that you use, your phones, your computers, applications, so you already have three layers of intelligence, but all of those, including the cortex and the machine intelligence, which is your sort of cybernetic third layer, is working to try to make the limbic system happy. Because the limbic system is a source of Will so, it might be that the AI just wants to make the humans happy.”

Elon explains, "AI may view humans as a source of will, like the limbic system driving instincts. With the cortex and electronics as intelligence layers, AI might aim to make humans happy."

Neuralink and AI Mitigation

Continuing on AI, Elon introduced Neuralink: “And part of what Neuralink is trying to do, is to improve the communication bandwidth between the cortex and the digital tertiary layer because the output bandwidth of a human is less than one bit per second per day and there are 86,400 seconds in one day and you don’t output 86,400 tokens you know it’s like, the number of words that I can say in those forums, if you’re just looking at it from an information theory standpoint, how much information am I able to convey? Not that much. Because I can only say a few number of words, and in order to convey an idea, I have to take a concept in my head, and then I have to compress it down, into a small number of words, try to aspirational model, how you would decompress those words into concepts that are in your own mind, that’s communication. So your brain is doing a lot of compression and decompression, and then has a very small output bandwidth. Neuralink can increase that bandwidth by several orders of magnitude, and also, you don’t have to spend as much time compressing thoughts into a small number of words, you can do conceptual telepathy. That is the idea behind Neuralink. It is intended to be a mitigation against AI existential risk.”

AI Alignment and Humanity

Reeves asked about the concept of AI alignment, prompting Elon to explain: “It’s asking the question, is the AI going to do things that make civilization better? Make people happy? Or will it be contrary to humanity? Will it foster humanity? Or not? Will it be against humanity? So obviously, we want an AI that will foster humanity and I think in developing an AI to foster humanity—because I’ve thought about AI safety for a long time—I think I’ve had probably about 1000 hours of discussion about this and my ultimate conclusion is that the best course for AI safety is to have an AI that is maximally truth-seeking and also curious. And if you have both of those things, I think it will naturally foster humanity because it will want to see how humanity develops. Want to see it because humanity is more interesting than not humanity. You know, I like Mars. I’m a big fan of Mars. And I think we should become a multi-planetary civilization. That’s very important. The purpose of SpaceX is to make life multi-planetary. That’s the reason I created the company, and that’s the reason we have the Starship development in South Texas. The rocket is far too big for just satellites. It’s intended to establish life on Mars not just to send astronauts there briefly, but to build a city on Mars. A city that is ultimately self-sustaining so, but getting back to AI, if you have a truth-seeking AI, that is maximally curious, my neural net, my biological neural net says that that is going to be the safest outcome. People say, why do you like Mars, Mars is not as interesting as Earth, because there’s no human civilization there. Or, thought of another way, if you want to render Mars, rendering Mars is pretty easy as it’s basically red rocks, kind of like some parts of Arizona you know there’s not a lot of people. It’s just very easy to render. But, rendering human civilization is much harder, much more complex, much more interesting so I think a curious and truth-seeking AI would want to foster humanity and want to see where it goes.”

Trusting AI and the End of Fighter Pilots

Reeves asked an interesting question, drawing on a comparison to a movie that he and Elon were both familiar with, Top Gun with Tom Cruise. His question to Elon was, “How do we build trust between the human and the machine, as there are many humans who don’t want to use the technology because they don’t trust it?”

Elon: “Well, I think we shouldn’t just automatically trust these things. I think you want to test it out, and do a lot of testing and see how it actually works and a conflict at a small scale, and then scale it up if it’s effective, but, I have to say, like I’m not sure for example, like I have to say,… Well, fortunately, this is not an Air Force gathering, but I’m not sure there’s a lot of room and opportunity for fighter pilots because I think if you’ve got a drone swarm coming at you, then the pilot is a liability in the fighter plane, to be honest. If you compare a drone versus a fighter plane, how easy is it to make a drone? It’s at least 10, maybe 100 times easier to make the drone, and you can afford to sacrifice the drones whereas, with the pilots, you don’t want to sacrifice the pilots, so my guess is actually that the age of human-piloted fighter aircraft is coming to an end.”

A primarily young audience of students gather to intently listen to Elon Musk at West Point. Elon spoke at on August 16, 2024, during a fireside chat with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, as part of the U.S. Military Academy’s convocation.
A primarily young audience of students gather to intently listen to Elon Musk at West Point. Elon spoke at on August 16, 2024, during a fireside chat with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, as part of the U.S. Military Academy’s convocation.

I am excited to share Part 3 of this talk with you soon!

My thoughts

Elon does not get credit for how much help he’s giving Ukraine. Without Starlink, Ukraine would have no communications for defense. Sadly, we’ve not heard Zelensky thank him for this in the last few years. Instead, Elon is villainized constantly.

Speaking to the young and excited audience at West Point, Elon showed his deep love for humanity when he urged caution: don’t blindly trust AI, test it carefully first. Drones, far easier to build than fighter planes, can be sacrificed—unlike precious pilots. He believes human-piloted fighters are fading, to protect lives.

Interested in other talks by Elon? I publish many of them.

Elon Musk’s 2024 West Point Talk Part 1`

Elon Musk Talk Part 1 at Lancaster Town Hall

Elon Musk Part 2 at Lancaster Town Hall

Highlights from Elon Musk’s Telephone Town Hall

Gail Alfar, Image Credit Apple Lamps on X
Gail Alfar, dedicated Tesla advocate and writer since 2020, continues to champion the resilience and innovation of Tesla owners.
Elon Musk’s 2024 West Point Talk

Elon Musk’s 2024 West Point Talk: My Transcript of Insights on the Future of Technology in Warfare (Part 1)

Gail Alfar1 Comment

This is the first of a multi part series, that allows you to closely study Elon’s words spoken at West Point on August 16, 2024. The full video was released on February 6, 2025. If you love history of civilizations, and like to study battles and war, you’ll find value in Elon’s insight. I know I did.

Featuring Elon Musk interviewed by Shane Reeves

Elon Musk at West Point: AI and Drones Will Define Future Warfare

How do you see warfare transforming in the future? Elon replied with, “the biggest factor I think by far is AI and drones. The current war in Ukraine is very much a drone war already – sort of a contest between Russia and trying to see who can deploy the most number of drones. Now if there’s a major power war, it’s very much going to be a drone war. It’s gonna be drones and AI and … I do worry about the existential risk of AI, which is that if you employ AI and drones, do you Eventually go down this path where you get to terminator? We should try to avoid that! We should minimize the terminator risk. But essentially when you’re making military drones, you are making terminators. And I think you will be somewhat forced into giving the Drone localized AI. Because if the AI is far away, it can’t control as well as localized AI.”

Elon explained that localized AI means it’s an autonomous scaling machine which will be completely autonomous if you give it the OK in a particular arena and then it just goes.

Will our military have the same types of concerns and limitations? To this question Elon replied, “it depends on how much existential risk there is in these wars, if it’s a regional war, I think it will be more tempered, if it goes beyond regional war, then all bets are off. And then you start deploying things that you really would not want to deploy. So hopefully, that does not happen.”

In response to a comment by Reeves, that machines are not just disrupting warfare today they are commonplace, Elon said “drones are going to be overwhelmingly what matters for any powers that have significant technology. Elon added, my personal belief is like, it’ll actually be I think probably too dangerous to have humans at the front. It’s drones at the front. Drones don’t miss.”


Reeves asked, or commented, because of the lethality then, it’s too dangerous to have humans at the front? Elon responded “Yes, I mean, if you have seen some of the computer-controlled sniper rifles, they just don’t miss. So you are finding a machine that is going to aim with micron level accuracy, and it never gets tired.”


Reeves asked Elon how he thinks the United States should be leveraging technology to further our national defense?


Elon paused, and replied, “Well I think we probably need to invest in drones, the United States is strong in terms of technology of the items, but, the production rate is low, so, it is a small number of units, relatively speaking, but I think that basically there is a production rate issue with the rate, like if you say how fast can you make drones, imagine there is a Drone conflict. The outcome of that Drone conflict will be based on: How many drones does each side have in that particular skirmish times the kill ratio… so let’s say that the United States would have a set of drones that have a high kill ratio, but then, the other side has far more drones. If you have got a 2 to 1 kill ratio, and the other side has four times as many drones, you are still going to lose.”


Reeves asked Elon if he thinks that our industrial base can scale to make the number of drones that Elon is talking about?


Elon replied, “I think that’s going to be the biggest challenge. It can scale. But it is not currently scaling.” Reeves asked why. Elon thought about the current state of Drone procurement in the U.S.A, and also mentioned,

“I read a lot of military history and the thing that I go to sleep with is usually an audiobook on military history of one kind or another so I find the subject very interesting and one of the things that tends to happen is that countries are geared up pretty much enough to fight the last war, but not the next war. And it’s hard to change. If you look at the uniforms at the start of World War I and the tactics they use at the start of World War I, they were not significantly different from the Napoleonic era. You know, when the French were marching into war with brightly colored uniforms. It looks great. But that’s not what you want to be, you know when someone is pointing a gun at you you don’t want a great looking uniform you want a uniform that blends in so, there is a tendency to be gearing up to fight the last war in the U.S. So that would be kind of the Cold War I guess. So, it usually takes some kind of shock factor to adjust. I would recommend adjusting now.”

Elon: “And you are seeing some startups like Anduril and a few others that have a different mindset, but it’s really going to be, can you make a lot of drones? And what’s the kill ratio? That’s what it comes down to.”

Anduril Industries, founded in 2017 in Costa Mesa, California, is a defense tech company revolutionizing military capabilities with AI-driven solutions. Named after a mythical sword, Anduril builds autonomous drones (like Ghost), surveillance systems (Sentry), and software (Lattice) to enhance national security. Unlike traditional defense giants, it operates like a nimble tech startup, prioritizing speed and innovation. With $2.3 billion in funding by 2024, Anduril serves the U.S. Department of Defense and allies, competing with legacy contractors by delivering cost-effective, scalable tech for modern warfare, including border security and counter-drone operations.

This is Part 1, of Elon’s talk, and it gets better. You can follow my account, turn on your notifications, for Part 2. Or check back periodically. 

Tesla Model Y 2025 FSD review Launch Series Tesla Model Y test drive autonomous driving

Gail’s Tesla Podcast on 𝕏 Episode No. 115: New Tesla Model Y 2025 Review: Why I Rate It 10 Stars

Gail AlfarLeave a comment

Watch This Tesla Model Y Conquer the Road with FSD!

In episode 115 of my podcast, I dive into the freshly redesigned Tesla Model Y 2025 Launch Series—a car so impressive it earns a perfect 10 stars from me!

I got a rare chance to test drive and film this beauty, inside and out, showcasing why it’s a must-try for Tesla owners. From its jaw-dropping Full Self-Driving (FSD) performance to clever features like the frunk drain plug and emergency door release, this Model Y conquers the road like no other. Watch the full episode exclusively on X [here] and see why I’m urging everyone to activate FSD!

Standout Features That Wow: Emergency Release, Frunk, and More

Right out of the gate (00:12), I highlight the emergency door release—smartly tucked in the back door pocket for safety. Then at 00:18, there’s the frunk drain plug—a game-changer for party planners using ice that needs to drain. The Launch Series screen graphic (00:30) dazzles with its crisp visualization, while the “door thunk” (00:38 and 03:27) proves this car’s build quality with that satisfying, solid sound. Steering wheel control buttons and stalks (00:59) make driving intuitive, and the camera views (01:29) pop onto the screen effortlessly. Oh, and the automatic parking feature (01:47)? It’s like the car’s showing off—it nails tight spots with zero stress.

Tesla Model Y 2025 FSD review Launch Series Tesla Model Y test drive autonomous driving
Tesla Model Y 2025 Launch Series Tesla

FSD Steals the Show: Why I Say Always Use It

At 02:46, I explain why FSD is non-negotiable for Model Y owners. During my West Austin test drive, this car tackled tricky roads autonomously—think sharp turns and busy traffic—flawlessly. The middle console (02:08) and spacious interior (02:20) make every ride comfy, but it’s FSD that elevates it to 10-star territory. Whether it’s self-parking or navigating safely, I’ve never felt more confident behind the wheel—or rather, letting the car take it. Tesla owners, if you’ve got FSD and aren’t using it, episode 115 will change your mind. Activate it and feel the magic.

Stunning Design and Final Thoughts

The exterior shines too—those sleek rear lights (04:10) and Launch Series puddle lights (05:23) scream premium. The trunk’s open/close function (04:33) is smooth, and seat belts (05:03) pull just right. At 03:38, I share more thoughts: this Model Y doesn’t just drive; it redefines driving. It’s packed with upgrades—same price as the old Model Y—yet feels like a steal. Watch episode 115 on X [here] to see this amazing car in action. For media and credits, stick around ‘til 05:42. Tesla had built a road-conquering masterpiece!

The exterior shines too—those sleek rear lights (04:10) and Launch Series puddle lights (05:23) scream premium. The trunk’s open/close function (04:33) is smooth, and seat belts (05:03) pull just right. At 03:38, I share more thoughts: this Model Y doesn’t just drive; it redefines driving. It’s packed with upgrades—same price as the old Model Y—yet feels like a steal. Watch episode 115 on X [here](insert your link) to see this amazing car in action. For media and credits, stick around ‘til 05:42. Trust me, this Tesla’s a road-conquering masterpiece!FOR MEDIA USE ONLY News media is welcome to use my material in connection with a story or article. By downloading any content I create, you understand and hereby agree and represent that: (1) you are a member of the news media; (2) use of the content is in connection with a story or an article appearing in newspapers, periodicals, digital publications or television; (3) all images and rights thereto remain the property Gail Alfar.; and (4) use of the image is not for publication covers, advertising, promotion or otherwise for commercial purposes. Furthermore, use of any and all images and content appearing on this page must each include the notice “Courtesy of Gail Alfar” Use of materials copied from this website is at your own risk. You must obtain prior written consent from Gail Alfar for uses that exceed the above parameters.