Based on track record, Elon’s engineering intuitions are probably:
A+ on physics/MechE/metallurgy/ops
A on ChemE, manufacturing, physical design
B on transactional s/w, AI
C to D on social s/w
F on neurotech
Tempting to dunk, but I’d expect him to learn fast here and get to B+
Conversation
He’s a bullshit artist on so many fronts it’s tempting to dismiss him as a bullshit artist on *all* fronts, like Trump. This is a mistake… I think he does have a preternatural talent for rapidly zeroing in on the right intuitions and strategic tradeoffs on engineering matters.
2
8
80
A lot of average engineers like to dunk on him for not actually being an engineer and dismissing him as an econ major playing engineer. This is way off. From what I’ve seen his reputation as a strong engineering mind is well deserved. It’s just not… uniformly good on all topics.
5
3
63
He may be wildly wrong initially (as he seems to be here) but he’ll get unreasonably right soon. A big part of why he’s able to improve his intuitions fast in entirely new topics is that he’s way bolder than most engineers. Most engineers have a blindness to bold design options.
Replying to
His technical style reminds me Lord Kelvin, who reportedly could not think about anything except in classical mechanical terms. Where effective translation to such terms was possible, he was surprisingly intuitive. Elsewhere… embarrassing errors.
web.mit.edu/redingtn/www/n
1
39
But… moot point. It’s not clear he can buy enough time financially to allow any strengths-in-translation to kick in. With the own goals on non-engineering fronts continuing at a steady clip.
2
2
28
I don't think his technical abiliites are at doubt at all. But with Twitter, the financial structure of the deal looks precarious. Of course with his talents, he could still pull it off. Will be happy to see first signs of reducing disaster :)
Quote Tweet
"The capital structure is a mess with interest that has explosive upside"
Truly. Wonder who were the advisors to the deal..the decision to take over, the price and the structure! twitter.com/EnergyCredit1/…
1


