The Intelligence from The Economist
Coming up Trump: our election model puts Harris behind
Oct 24, 2024
Simon Wright, Industry editor at The Economist, shares insights on Elon Musk's ambitious robotaxi promises, highlighting the technological and regulatory challenges that may delay their arrival. Meanwhile, Shardash Chitnas, a global business writer, reflects on 40 years of Microsoft Excel, celebrating its enduring popularity and user-friendly design. They discuss how Excel remains a staple in corporate environments while exploring the potential of AI to revolutionize this classic software. Politics and technology collide in this engaging conversation!
23:23
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast discusses a notable shift in the U.S. electoral landscape, highlighting Donald Trump's rising chances against Kamala Harris amidst declining undecided voters.
- It also emphasizes the longstanding dominance of Microsoft Excel in the spreadsheet market, alongside its ongoing relevance and challenges in adapting to emerging technologies.
Deep dives
Elon Musk's Ambitious Vision for Self-Driving Taxis
Tesla's recent launch of its autonomous taxi service presented a bold vision aimed at transforming urban transportation. The robo-taxi model, featuring a sleek design without steering wheels or pedals, aims for a price below $30,000, promising to be both safe and affordable. However, skepticism arises due to Musk’s history of overpromising on timelines, such as pledging a million robo-taxis by 2020 without delivering. Furthermore, competitors like Waymo and Cruise have already deployed self-driving vehicles, indicating a steep uphill battle for Tesla to gain regulatory approval and market trust.
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