Engaging with Elon Musk: A Physicist's Perspective on Technology
Written on
Chapter 1: Introduction
Recently, I reached out to Elon Musk on Twitter, presenting him with ten intriguing questions aimed at exploring the intersection of physics and technology. In a thread where he expressed interest in more tech-focused discussions, I aimed to engage him in a physicist-to-physicist dialogue.
As a professional physicist and AI engineer, my enthusiasm for advancements in fields like green energy and space exploration drives my curiosity. Here is the link to my original tweet:
Elon, I would be thrilled to conduct a physicist-to-physicist interview with you here on Twitter at your convenience. Below are my ten questions, which you can answer briefly or in detail.
Section 1.1: Questions for Elon
Q1: FSD VERSION 12
Congratulations on the release of FSD beta v11.4.3! I’ve been eager to see FSD transition to a complete neural network system from camera to wheels. What can you share about the anticipated architecture for version 12, including the types and sequences of neural networks involved?
Q2: BOOSTER LANDINGS
Witnessing the dual Falcon Heavy landings was a remarkable moment for me. What inspired the concept of landing boosters? Was there a specific calculation that convinced you it was feasible?
Q3: LLMs
I have been advocating that the optimization processes in large language models (LLMs) have led to emergent human-like understanding. What is your perspective on the opinions of figures like Chomsky and Marcus regarding LLMs and 'understanding'?
Q4: ANDROIDS
In my tests, LLMs have demonstrated impressive capabilities in understanding scenes and planning tasks. Do you envision LLMs becoming the central cognitive components of androids? How is Tesla incorporating them into the Optimus project?
This video features Elon Musk discussing Twitter, Tesla, and his thought processes during a live TED2022 talk, providing insights that could relate to our conversation.
Q5: STARSHIP
Starship is looking promising! What are the main challenges in the next one to three years that you find most concerning?
Q6: MARS
I am eager for Mars exploration and believe androids could significantly expedite settlement efforts. What are your thoughts on creating sustainable habitats on Mars?
Q7: NLU & AGI
As a fan of "2001: A Space Odyssey," I have been invested in natural language understanding since 1980. Do you think the path to AGI will be through engineered solutions or will it emerge organically?
Q8: SINGULARITY
I personally speculate that we could see significant developments in AI by around 2028, provided we manage to maintain control. What are your views on this?
Q9: CONSCIOUSNESS / NATURE OF REALITY
As a quantum physicist, the concept of consciousness fascinates me. Do you think we are experiencing a reality that transcends mere illusion?
Q10: EDUCATION
I admire your decision to leave your doctoral program after just three days. Can you share the story behind that choice and your thoughts on project-based education?
Q11: BONUS Q
Did you enjoy AppleTV's "Severance"? What were your favorite aspects, and do you have any theories about the upcoming season?
Please consider liking my tweet so that Elon may see it:
What questions would you have liked to ask? Feel free to suggest them in the comments!