How Elon Musk solves problems: First principles thinking explained | Lex Fridman Podcast Clips

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GUEST BIO:
Elon Musk is CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and Boring Company.

PODCAST INFO:

SOCIAL:

[DavidSiskinNYC]

I'm building a shoe factory in Texas and the idea of disregarding the tools and methods which have always been used manufacturing this particular shoe design and concentrating on the ideal of the perfect product has opened my mind to a universe of possibilities I had never before imagined. Thank you Lex and thank you Elon!

[ReflectionOcean]

00:00:32 First principles analysis for problem-solving.
00:00:54 Applying physics laws as foundational principles.
00:01:24 Importance of not violating conservation laws in design.
00:01:51 Thinking about problems in extreme limits for solutions.
00:02:26 Volume manufacturing complexity versus design complexity.
00:03:30 Evaluating cost factors beyond volume in manufacturing.
00:04:35 Setting asymptotic cost limits based on raw materials.
00:05:54 Simplifying complex systems through first principles thinking.
00:07:42 Striving for the ideal perfect product arrangement of atoms.
00:08:38 Balancing existing methods with theoretical perfection for innovation.

[onigbindeoluwamuyiwa]

here: "physics is law and every other thing is suggestion". that's the takeaway! the fact that he thinks manufacturing should approach the cost of arranging atoms in a particular way coupled with the cost of IP is simply amazing!

[abou]

Scientific method + First Principles + AGILE = Creative Disruptor Genius. The pattern cuts the cloth...

[tanmayupadhyay]

Key learning for me: don't flow into the inertia of conventional way of doing things, instead have a vision or idea of your ideal product, then work on solving problems to manufacture the product.

[wowTasteThis]

7:15 on is pure gold. Applies to any type of problem solving or product. See it all the time in software.

[randomlee]

He seems very relaxed in your interviews.

[ascendor]

“I take the position that I'm always to some degree wrong, and the aspiration is to be less wrong.” - Elon Musk
I need explanation of this .

[nathanmays]

I’ve been in manufacturing engineering for 20 years and not once have I considered a product’s atoms.

[myexperience]

"Think of a perfect product, find the tools, and atoms are the limit", top-down thinking.
Thanks for the

[mmariner]

Elon's engineering framework is guided by production and manufacturing at the atom level, and then considers production at the limits/extremes to assess what will produce the most cost-effective results (e.g. how can we get the cost of manufacturing done? How can we simplify the production from raw materials?

[bagasmuktiwibowo]

“ok let’s make products”
“what do we need to make them”
elon musk: “atoms”

[ivanbarbosa]

He takes things to the limit, root cause analysis, reverse thinking 🤔, laws of physics, what if questioning.No wonder he is a genius.Thank you

[gsftom]

Damn that is the best way to think abt or approach any situation. Great interview. Amazing that I am learning of this way of thinking in my 50s / had not even heard abt this a year ago. Unbelievable (in a not good way)!

[Florence-pg]

Thank you. A more relaxed interviewer & interview is gems of info, great job, you two...! ❤👍🤝!❤!

[Pcoxproductions]

7:45 what is the best arrangement of atoms then how do we build the tools to make it this way

[joeyschulman]

Sometimes i swear elon makes simple ideas sound so complicated

[villageidiot]

This is the ideal education, Lex and Elon together. Thank You. We are so lucky to have YouTube. Imagine if we could have watched The Fathers and Authors of the USA have long a meeting in pub or coffee house, how much stronger this nation would be.

[ThisIsNotWhatItLooksLik]

5:19 I cant find this Keller talk. Does someone know if it is just no yet published or it was off camera?

[Soulixs]

Does anyone have a link to where JIM was educating Lex on reducing robotic cost?