RJ Scaringe interview on Kara Swisher podcast

[ACDC]

In RJ's words:

Great conversation with Kara Swisher about the current state of the EV market, Rivian’s approach to autonomy, and of course — R2!

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[glgoody]

This was a very informative discussion with RJ on the future direction of Rivian and obstacles to overcome. I have to say this would have been better without Kara injecting her hatred for Elon and Trump which was very unprofessional and unnecessary. She could have simply stated the policies she disagrees with rather than attacking people. Otherwise, it was a good interview.

 

[Bill Hart]

This was a very informative discussion with RJ on the future direction of Rivian and obstacles to overcome. I have to say this would have been better without Kara injecting her hatred for Elon and Trump which was very unprofessional and unnecessary. She could have simply stated the policies she disagrees with rather than attacking people. Otherwise, it was a good interview.

Absolutely agree with your assessment. RJ did a fantastic job answering the questions in layman’s words. His answers seemed genuine. However, the personal jabs injected by the interviewer were unnecessary and unhelpful. They were like potholes in a road. You hit em and keep going, only wishing you could have avoided them.

 

[COdogman]

Love the “stick to sports” analysis being offered here about her comments Start your own podcasts if you don’t like it….

 

[TexasBob]

This was a very informative discussion with RJ on the future direction of Rivian and obstacles to overcome. I have to say this would have been better without Kara injecting her hatred for Elon and Trump which was very unprofessional and unnecessary. She could have simply stated the policies she disagrees with rather than attacking people. Otherwise, it was a good interview.

I don't know, her hypothesis that Tesla has failed to deliver on autonomy because Elon has been busy making "non-consensual sexual material" seems like a much more thoughtful and reasonable hypothesis than anything proffered by Cathy Wood.

Side note, I think RJ blew off the main shift in autonomy: the incorporation of reasoning layers within the world model to solve the challenges pure NNs cannot manage.

 

[Epzey]

Love the “stick to sports” analysis being offered here about her comments Start your own podcasts if you don’t like it….

Real original, you’re essentially doing the same thing you’re criticizing the others for doing. If they did start one it’s not like RJ would come on anytime soon. The point stands in that what does taking shots at Elon do to further meaningful and pertinent discussion about EVs and autonomy? It’s cheap, meant to evoke clapter and below the caliber of journalist she believes herself to be.

 

[COdogman]

Real original, you’re essentially doing the same thing you’re criticizing the others for doing. If they did start one it’s not like RJ would come on anytime soon. The point stands in that what does taking shots at Elon do to further meaningful and pertinent discussion about EVs and autonomy? It’s cheap, meant to evoke clapter and below the caliber of journalist she believes herself to be.

That’s a funny defense for their very “original” stay-in-the -lane-I -decide-you-belong-in takes.

Give me a break

it’s her show and she can talk about what she wants. If you fail to see or admit how Elon and/or Trump relate to Rivian’s present and future, I would simply ask you to pull your head out of the sand.

 

[BrayBay]

I'm a simple person. I see an RJ interview post, I watch.

Always good to hear him talk. He's very consistent in his answers, often to the very same questions.

I thought RJ makes a fantastic point about traditional automakers failing to adapt could potentially lead to taking a revenue hit, and reflecting what happened the last time this event occurred (2008-2009).

 

[denverag03]

I liked the interview. In particular it was interesting to me to hear him break down the Chinese EV economics. I’m sure others have done that but first time I’ve heard a cogent simple explanation.

as a software person who is tired of hearing about AI I got a little tired of hearing RJ say AI. But whatever.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

I liked the interview. In particular it was interesting to me to hear him break down the Chinese EV economics. I’m sure others have done that but first time I’ve heard a cogent simple explanation.

as a software person who is tired of hearing about AI I got a little tired of hearing RJ say AI. But whatever.

For those of us who don't have an hour to watch, where in the recording is RJ's discussion of the Chinese EV economics? Thanks in advance!

 

[VandalSibs]

For those of us who don't have an hour to watch, where in the recording is RJ's discussion of the Chinese EV economics? Thanks in advance!

The video has chapters built into it, and that subject is one of them.

 

[Epzey]

That’s a funny defense for their very “original” stay-in-the -lane-I -decide-you-belong-in takes.

Give me a break

it’s her show and she can talk about what she wants. If you fail to see or admit how Elon and/or Trump relate to Rivian’s present and future, I would simply ask you to pull your head out of the sand.

I wasn’t a defense but pointing out that you’re embodying the reaction you’re scolding others for having.

I didn’t say Trump and Elon aren’t relevant. They most certainly are because of the tax credit removal and the fact without Elon EVs probably wouldn’t be where they are today. The point is make arguments or ask questions that are poignant, not ad-hominem attacks on people who aren’t even there. It’s bush league ESPN first take style behavior not the behavior of someone who most certainly considers herself a traditional journalist. She most certainly can do what she wants but what she did here belies the moral superiority she thinks she has.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

The video has chapters built into it, and that subject is one of them.

Thanks, @VandalSibs! The "Chinese EVs" chapter starts around 26:14. Well worth watching (I tried 1.5x speed).

What I got from that is that RJ thinks Rivian can compete with Chinese EV manufacturers/suppliers on nimbleness and design, but no American company can match the prices of a Chinese company whose government heavily subsidizes the cost of capital, and whose labor markets are so much cheaper for employers.

This could be counteracted by (1) tariffs or similar measures; (2) requirements for local manufacture inside the USA (where the two big Chinese advantages go away); or (3) getting ahead of the Chinese on automation and robotics.

Did I miss anything important in that chapter? Thanks to all!

 

[COdogman]

I wasn’t a defense but pointing out that you’re embodying the reaction you’re scolding others for having.

I didn’t say Trump and Elon aren’t relevant. They most certainly are because of the tax credit removal and the fact without Elon EVs probably wouldn’t be where they are today. The point is make arguments or ask questions that are poignant, not ad-hominem attacks on people who aren’t even there. It’s bush league ESPN first take style behavior not the behavior of someone who most certainly considers herself a traditional journalist. She most certainly can do what she wants but what she did here belies the moral superiority she thinks she has.

I disagree, but that's ok.

Kara is one of the few Tech journalists who is brave enough to actually call out the Tech Bros for their behavior, whether it's seen as ad hominem or not, that is the world she lives in, and those people she is referring to are all ad hominem attacks all the time. You won't get anywhere in that space playing by a different set of rules.

Not sure where "moral superiority" came from, but she is not a straight reporter. She makes a living by sharing her takes (opinions) on the Tech industry. So it's condescending to see people telling her to keep those opinions to herself because they may focus on someone they like.

 

[renderpaz]

Echoing what some others have said, I find Kara's speeping vitriol towards the "right" insufferable. I don't need to start my own podcast, I can just not listen to hers, and instead criticize it on the internet . This is unfortunate as I usually like listening to RJ who has had the sense to remain focused on his products over the years.

I too have many problems with Tesla/Elon/Trump but also know that the joyless, self righteous, patronizing tone she uses does nothing but strengthen her opponents and leads to further polarization.

I am saddened to see forum members putting down others who are simply expressing their opinion logically while using polite language - not seeing the hypocrisy in defending someone else's right to an opinion by trying to take someone else's away.

WWRJD - What would RJ do?

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