Pivot – Tesla’s Chargers, The Writers’ Strike, and What Global Policies Will Save the World

Intro

In this episode of the “Pivot” podcast, hosts Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher discuss a range of topics, including Tesla’s partnership with Ford and GM for charging stations, the writers’ strike in Hollywood, the importance of global policies, and more. They also share insights into their news consumption habits and their appreciation for listener questions and engagement.

Main Takeaways

Tesla’s Charging Stations

• Tesla has partnered with Ford and GM to use their charging stations, potentially making their charging station division a distinct and profitable business.
• Early investment in charging stations gives Tesla an advantage over competitors, and if their standard becomes the norm, other companies in the charging station space could become obsolete.
• Charging stations could become a commodity like gas stations, but with lower margins.
• Expansion of EV cars raises questions about the readiness of the US electrical grid and related infrastructure.
• Charging businesses for electric cars are going to be a big business with a lot of innovation in the future.

The Writers’ Strike in Hollywood

• The writers’ strike in Hollywood could lead to more streaming content and opportunities for new writers.
• Writers’ unions have miscalculated and have no leverage, as there are too many writers and not enough demand for their work.
• There is a need to restore a progressive tax structure to retrain people who are displaced by technology.
• Owned media, such as blogs, email newsletters, and podcasts, are becoming more important for companies than traditional PR.
• Storytelling is an enduring skill that is valuable in many aspects of life, including raising capital and enticing a crowd.

Global Policies and Regulations

• Global policies are necessary to prevent existential technological disaster for the next generation.
• A global regulatory body is needed for AI policies and regulations, possibly run out of NATO for security reasons.
• Nuclear energy should be brought back as a safer alternative to fossil fuels.
• Social media needs global standards and regulations, but it’s difficult due to private ownership.
• Superpowers cooperation is necessary for the well-being of humanity, and there are already examples of successful agreements and organizations in place.

News Consumption Habits

• Scott and Sarah stay informed through teamwork and collaboration with colleagues.
• Sarah reads major newspapers, Politico, and trusted news sources, while Scott finds interesting ideas through team members and social media newsletters.
• They both prioritize trusted news sources over other media outlets.
• They carve out specific time in the morning and evening for consuming news, but prioritize family time during dinner.
• They value recommendations from friends and colleagues as a source of information.

Listener Engagement

• The hosts appreciate listener questions and enjoy engaging in debate and conversation with their audience.
• They acknowledge that they are not experts on everything and welcome corrections and feedback from their listeners.
• They love meeting their audience and value the opportunity to connect with them.

Summary

Tesla’s Charging Stations

Tesla’s partnership with Ford and GM to use their charging stations highlights the potential for Tesla’s charging station division to become a profitable business. Their early investment in charging stations gives them an advantage over competitors, and if their standard becomes the norm, other companies in the charging station space may become obsolete. However, the expansion of EV cars raises questions about the readiness of the US electrical grid and related infrastructure. Despite these challenges, charging businesses for electric cars are expected to be a significant industry with future innovations.

The Writers’ Strike in Hollywood

The ongoing writers’ strike in Hollywood has the potential to lead to more streaming content and create opportunities for new writers. However, writers’ unions have miscalculated and currently lack leverage due to an oversupply of writers and insufficient demand for their work. To address the displacement caused by technology, there is a need to restore a progressive tax structure for retraining affected individuals. Additionally, owned media platforms like blogs, email newsletters, and podcasts are gaining importance for companies, emphasizing the enduring value of storytelling skills in various aspects of life.

Global Policies and Regulations

The podcast highlights the necessity of global policies and regulations to prevent technological disasters for future generations. Establishing a global regulatory body for AI policies and regulations, potentially run out of NATO, is seen as a crucial step. The revival of nuclear energy as a safer alternative to fossil fuels is also emphasized. However, implementing global standards and regulations for social media is challenging due to private ownership. Cooperation between superpowers is essential to safeguard humanity’s well-being, and successful agreements and organizations already exist as examples.

News Consumption Habits

Scott and Sarah adopt different approaches to stay informed. While Sarah reads major newspapers, Politico, and trusted news sources, Scott finds interesting ideas through team members and social media newsletters. Both prioritize trusted news sources over other media outlets and allocate specific time for consuming news. They value recommendations from friends and colleagues as a valuable source of information.

Listener Engagement

The hosts appreciate listener questions and actively engage in debate and conversation with their audience. They acknowledge that they are not experts on everything and welcome corrections and feedback from their listeners. Meeting their audience is a cherished experience that allows them to connect and build a community.

Conclusion

In this episode of the “Pivot” podcast, Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher cover a range of topics, including Tesla’s charging stations, the writers’ strike in Hollywood, the importance of global policies and regulations, and their own news consumption habits. They emphasize the need for infrastructure investment, vocational training, and global cooperation to address various challenges and create a better future. The hosts also express their appreciation for listener engagement and value the opportunity to connect with their audience.