The Rocket Rag

Musk Accuses Google of "Inside Job" in Response to Rogan, Joins Trump for Thanksgiving, and Preps for Chatbot War

Hold on to your hats, Rocket Rag readers! Elon Musk’s X feed has been on fire this week, sparking controversy, fueling speculation, and once again placing him squarely in the center of the news cycle. Let’s jump right into the action:

Musk's X-Plosive Tweets and the "Inside Job" Accusation

• @elonmusk, 12:24 AM, Nov 29, 2024: "It was an inside job". (In response to a video of Joe Rogan discussing alleged Google suppression of his interview with Donald Trump). Elon is confident Google willingly surpressed the Trump/Rogan interview right before the election.

This wasn't the only headline-grabbing tweet from Musk this week:

• @elonmusk, 9:44 AM, Nov 28, 2024: "You are so much more than the media now". Musk continues to pump the idea of decentralized journalism on X as a permanent trend rather than the old-school centralized media structure. It does seem difficult for centralized media organizations to compete with the decentralized structure going forward.

• @elonmusk, 11:54 PM, Nov 28, 2024: "The people of Ireland will vote for freedom 🇮🇪". Irish elections are TODAY!

Mar-a-Lago Thanksgiving and Political Maneuvering

Beyond the digital sphere, Musk spent his Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago, joining Donald Trump and a host of other notable figures for a festive dinner. According to Business Insider, the gathering featured the usual Trump-rally flair, with guests singing and dancing to "YMCA."

This wasn't just a social call, however. The Financial Times reports that Musk, as an advisor to President-elect Trump, is poised to play a crucial role in U.S.-China relations. This puts him in a delicate position, given Tesla’s significant investments in China, including a major factory in Shanghai. With the incoming administration planning to increase tariffs on Chinese imports, Musk will have to navigate a complex web of economic and political interests.

Pentagon Critique and the Drive for Government Efficiency

As reported by the New York Post, Musk took aim at the Pentagon's F-35 fighter jet program, calling it outdated and overly complex. He instead advocated for the use of autonomous drones in modern warfare. This stance is consistent with his leadership of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to streamline federal spending, including defense expenditures. Musk seems intent on bringing his disruptive, efficiency-focused approach to the government.

xAI's Chatbot Challenge: A Rivalry Reignited

In the tech world, Musk is gearing up for another major battle. His AI company, xAI, plans to launch a new separate chatbot app this December, directly challenging OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This move reignites his rivalry with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, following Musk’s departure from the company in 2018. The upcoming launch is poised to be a major event in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Musk and XAI have been hard at work training “Grok 3” on 200,000 Nvidia chips. They are aiming to launch this new model by year end. With this much compute, it could be the top model.