Tag Archives: masks

Experts Cite Mask’s “Doge” Involvement as a Key Disruption in Branding | Elon Musk

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Scott Galloway, a prominent marketing professor in the US, described Elon Musk’s strategy of implementing severe work and spending reductions within the federal government on behalf of the Trump administration as “one of the greatest brand disruptions ever.”

During a recent episode of the popular Pivot Podcast, he mentioned that he argued that Trump’s billionaire business advisor alienated the customer base of Tesla, one of his key ventures, while partnering with a president uninterested in the types of vehicles his allies produce.

Galloway also pointed out a vote indicating that Tesla fell to No. 95 in 2021 from its previous position as the eighth most reputable brand.

“He alienates the wrong audience,” Galloway commented. “Three-quarters of Republicans will never consider purchasing an EV. He seems comfortable associating with people who aren’t interested in electric vehicles.”

He also cited statistics showing that Tesla’s sales reached 59% in France, 81% in Sweden, 74% in the Netherlands, 66% in Denmark, 50% in Switzerland, and 33% in Portugal.

Over the past few months, Musk has attempted to intervene in various political matters across Europe, including the German federal elections and the UK’s discussions regarding grooming gangs.

A report from Jato Dynamics, a provider of automotive industry insights, noted that Tesla’s Chinese rival, which is based in Austin, gained traction in the lucrative European EV market after previous competitors faced challenges.

“This was certainly one of the largest brand disruptions,” Galloway told his co-host, veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher. “Tesla was an outstanding brand.”

“He alienates his key demographics.”

The reductions in federal government operations and budget linked to Musk stemmed from his role in leading the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during Trump’s second term, which commenced in January. Musk secured this position after his Super Political Action Committee contributed $200 million to Trump’s successful bid to reclaim the White House following his 2020 election loss.

Since then, opinion surveys have indicated significant disapproval of Musk’s efforts for Trump, revealing that many voters were dissatisfied with the approach taken by the businessman and DOGE towards federal employees.

By late April, Tesla had reported a 71% drop in profits. In a revenue call with Tesla investors, Musk announced he would step back from his role in DOGE in May.

Musk described his responsibilities as “primarily managing the financial aspects of order” in the government, predicting “a considerable decrease in time dedicated to DOGE.”

A nonpartisan research organization, Public Service Partnership, estimated that the $160 billion cuts credited to DOGE would ultimately amount to around $135 billion.

Source: www.theguardian.com

European sales of Tesla drop by almost 45% amid controversy over Trump administration and masks

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Sales of a new Tesla car in Europe plummeted last month since Elon Musk’s involvement in Trump’s administration, indicating potential buyer backlash towards his controversial behavior.

The electric car manufacturer sold just under 16,000 vehicles in Europe last month, a 44% decrease across 25 countries including the EU, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland.

Tesla’s market share dropped to 9.6%, its lowest in five years. January also saw a 45% decline in sales compared to 2024.

Although the UK reported a 21% increase in new Tesla vehicle registrations in February, Tesla’s overall sales in Europe are struggling due to Musk’s political involvement and the Model Y overhaul.

Analysts are monitoring Musk’s impact on Tesla amidst concerns of consumer backlash and competition within the EV market. Brands like Tesla, with limited model lineups, are vulnerable during model transitions.

Other automakers like Volkswagen, BMW, and Mini have seen sales growth in Europe, outpacing Tesla in February.

BYD, a Chinese-owned company, has reported significant sales increases, overshadowing Tesla in revenue and sales figures.

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BYD has emerged as a strong competitor to Tesla, exceeding them in revenue and sales volume, especially with their line of hybrid cars.

Polestar, owned by Geely, Volvo’s parent company, has also shown growth in vehicle sales in the European market.

BYD’s market value has surged, positioning them as a key player in the electric vehicle industry alongside Tesla and other major automakers.

Despite these challenges, Tesla’s shares rose 6% on Monday, showing resilience in the market amid increasing competition and regulatory changes.

Overall car sales in European markets saw a slight drop, while BEV registrations rose significantly, indicating a shift towards electric vehicles in the region.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges reject initial attempt to halt commercial shift without masks, but schedule autumn trials for AI.

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A United States judge denied a request for a preliminary injunction on Tuesday to halt the transition to an open commercial model, but agreed to hear the case this autumn.

Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, a US District Judge in Oakland, California, stated that the tech billionaire did not meet the “high burden necessary for a temporary injunction” to stop the conversion to openness.

Nevertheless, Rogers expressed the importance of quickly resolving the lawsuit, considering “the potential for crisis and harm if conversion takes place unlawfully.”

Elon Musk and Openai, co-founded as a nonprofit in 2015 but left before it gained momentum, have been embroiled in a year-long legal dispute. CEOs of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) have accused Openai of deviating from its original goal of developing artificial intelligence for the betterment of humanity, rather than corporate profits.

Openai and its CEO, Sam Altman, have denied these allegations. The lawsuit revolves around the shift to a for-profit model for chat developers, with Altman citing the need for more capital and competitiveness in the costly AI industry.

Openai welcomed the judge’s ruling, stating that Musk’s lawsuit, who launched rival startup Xai in 2023, was always about competition. Microsoft, the primary supporter of Openai, did not provide a comment.

Musk’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff, commended the judge for promising a swift trial on the core claims of the case. Toberoff emphasized the importance of ensuring Altman utilizes Musk’s charitable contributions for the benefit of the masses, not personal gain.

The ruling comes after Altman rejected a $97.4 million acquisition offer from a consortium led by Musk, claiming Openai is not for sale and accusing Musk of attempting to hinder its competitors.

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Softbank Group is reportedly discussing leading a funding round of up to $400 million for Openai, valuing the company at $300 million. This surpasses the $75 billion valuation discussed by Xai in a recent fundraising round.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Assessing the Effectiveness of Lockdowns and Masks in Controlling Coronavirus: An Explanation from a Professor

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Over the past four years, we’ve learned tough lessons about the balancing act of public health. Recent coronavirus research has highlighted the need to carefully weigh the benefits and harms of any action taken to mitigate the impact of the disease.

We need clarity on what has worked and what hasn’t in the fight against the coronavirus. One objective of a study was to understand more about this. Here’s what was found out…

Was the spread of the new coronavirus in nursing homes inevitable?

Early in the pandemic, being a resident or staff member in a care home carried the highest risk of death from coronavirus. The virus spread to nursing homes as elderly patients were discharged to make room for new hospitalizations. It was nearly impossible to stop infectious diseases from spreading within nursing homes, even if all patients were tested before being transferred to hospital, as tests can be negative until the person becomes infectious.

Did the personal protective equipment really work?

The importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of infection in hospitals and nursing homes was widely accepted even before COVID-19. The lack of availability of PPE was one of the main factors influencing coronavirus transmission in nursing homes.

Early in the pandemic, the benefits and risks of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in the community were uncertain. NPIs such as closing schools and banning public gatherings were effective at reducing the spread of the virus.

Did wearing a mask help protect against coronavirus?

Wearing masks did reduce community transmission of coronavirus, at least until the Omicron variant emerged. The value of masks in schools is still debated, with some studies showing that mandatory mask-wearing in schools reduced infections at least for the first few weeks.

Has quarantine helped?

Testing and self-isolation should reduce coronavirus transmission, but studies have shown that for this to work, a significant proportion of infected people would need to self-isolate. Self-isolation rates may not have made a significant difference, as many infected people are never identified.

How effective was the lockdown?

Lockdowns have been associated with mental and musculoskeletal health problems. The overall impact of NPIs in relation to their harms is a broader societal debate beyond just a scientific question.

How effective has the vaccine rollout been?

Rapid development of effective vaccines has been a real success during the pandemic, preventing many more deaths. However, the vaccines did not create herd immunity and eradicated the virus. They also had side effects, such as blood clotting and heart inflammation. Advancements in vaccine science during the pandemic may benefit other infectious diseases for decades to come.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com