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From SpaceX to Neuralink: The Elon Musk companies changing the world

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The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
15th October, 2024 16:56 IST
One of the more absurd notions often put forward by fools is that Elon Musk is merely a product of white privilege who stumbled into success, likened to a conman like Gilderoy Lockhart, claiming credit for others' achievements. This view is not shared by his peers. Sundar Pichai described Megazilla catching the booster as incredible to see, admitting to having watched it numerous times, while Jensen Huang acknowledged that Musk’s team at xAI achieved in 19 days what would take most others a year. Over the years, Musk has delved into technologies that have shaped the modern world, creating innovations we now take for granted. Zip2 , launched in 1999, provided business directories to newspapers and was the precursor to digital mapping and location services. X .com, which became PayPal, revolutionised digital payments and laid the groundwork for modern fintech.

While SpaceX ’s Megazilla may be making headlines, equally remarkable are its Falcon reusable rockets, Dragon capsules (used by NASA), Starship (a reusable spacecraft for Mars exploration), and Raptor engines. Tesla leads the charge in both electric vehicles and self-driving technology, and Starlink brings internet access to remote corners of the globe. Neuralink has already enabled a quadriplegic to interact with a computer using only his thoughts and aims to restore vision, motor function, and speech. Musk was also a founder of OpenAI .

Here’s an overview of the companies and technologies he has been associated with:

1. Zip2 (1996–1999)

  • Technology: Early web software
  • Details: Musk's first company, Zip2, provided business directories and maps to newspapers, which was a pioneering move in bringing traditional media businesses online. It can be seen as a precursor to today's digital mapping and location services.
2. X.com and PayPal (1999–2002)

  • Technology: Online banking and digital payments
  • Details: Musk co-founded X.com, an online payment company, which later became PayPal after a merger. PayPal revolutionised digital payments by making it easy for individuals and businesses to transfer money online. This technology laid the groundwork for modern fintech solutions.
3. SpaceX (2002–present)


  • Technology: Space exploration, rocket technology, reusable launch systems
  • Details:
    • Falcon Rockets: Reusable rockets (Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy) capable of reducing the cost of space travel.
    • Dragon Capsules: Spacecraft used to carry cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond.
    • Starship: A fully reusable spacecraft in development for Mars colonisation and deep space travel.
    • Starlink: Satellite internet service aimed at providing global high-speed internet coverage, particularly in remote areas.
    • Raptor Engines: Advanced rocket engines using liquid methane and liquid oxygen, designed to power the Starship.
4. Tesla (2004–present)


  • Technology: Electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous driving, energy storage, solar power
  • Details:
    • Electric Vehicles: Tesla’s electric cars (Model S, 3, X, Y, Cybertruck, Roadster) have pushed EV technology into the mainstream. Key innovations include advanced lithium-ion batteries and over-the-air software updates.
    • Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD): Tesla has invested heavily in autonomous vehicle technology, aiming for full self-driving capabilities through neural networks and sensor suites (cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors).
    • Battery Technology: Tesla’s innovations in lithium-ion battery technology, such as the 4680 battery cell, aim to improve energy density and reduce costs.
    • Energy Storage: Tesla’s Powerwall, Powerpack, and Megapack products are designed for home, business, and utility-scale energy storage.
    • Solar Energy: Through Tesla Solar and SolarCity (acquired in 2016), Musk is promoting solar energy solutions such as solar panels and the Solar Roof, which integrates solar energy directly into roofing materials.
5. OpenAI (2015–2018, no longer involved)


  • Technology: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning
  • Details: Musk co-founded OpenAI, an AI research lab, with the goal of developing safe and beneficial artificial intelligence. OpenAI focuses on creating AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) that could outperform humans in a broad range of tasks.


6. Neuralink (2016–present)

  • Technology: Brain–computer interface (BCI), neural implants
  • Details: Neuralink is focused on developing technologies to connect the human brain with computers. This involves creating implantable devices that can interface with neurons to help treat neurological conditions and, in the future, possibly enhance human cognition or enable human-AI symbiosis.
7. The Boring Company (2016–present)


  • Technology: Tunnel construction, transportation
  • Details: The Boring Company focuses on reducing the cost of tunnel construction by developing new tunnelling technologies. Key innovations include:
    • Loop: A high-speed underground transportation system using electric sleds to move vehicles through tunnels.
    • Hyperloop : Although not a Boring Company product, Musk has been a key proponent of Hyperloop technology – a proposed high-speed transportation system using low-pressure tubes for near-vacuum travel.
8. Thud (2017–2019)

  • Technology: Media and satire
  • Details: Thud was a satirical media company that Musk briefly funded. It focused on creating humorous and satirical content about technology, society, and the future.
9. SolarCity (acquired by Tesla in 2016)

  • Technology: Solar energy, photovoltaic systems
  • Details: Before merging with Tesla, SolarCity was one of the largest solar energy providers in the US. The company developed solar power technologies, including solar panels and solar roofs, to enable widespread adoption of clean energy.
10. Hyperloop (conceptualised in 2013)

  • Technology: High-speed transportation
  • Details: Although Musk's companies (like Tesla or SpaceX) are not directly building Hyperloop systems, Musk conceptualised the idea of Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system that uses vacuum tubes to move pods at speeds up to 760 mph. Several companies are working on bringing this technology to life based on Musk's open-source design.
11. Artificial Intelligence in Tesla

  • Technology: AI and autonomous driving
  • Details: Tesla’s development of autonomous vehicles is driven by AI technologies, particularly the neural networks that power Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software. The AI used in Tesla vehicles continuously learns and improves through real-world data.
12. Tesla Bot (Optimus)

  • Technology: Humanoid robots, AI, robotics
  • Details: Unveiled in 2021, Tesla Bot, also known as Optimus, is a humanoid robot designed to handle dangerous, repetitive, or boring tasks. It uses AI similar to Tesla's self-driving vehicles and is meant to be an extension of Musk’s vision for AI-driven automation.
13. Future Technologies

  • Mars Colonisation: Musk has long talked about his vision for making life multi-planetary through the colonisation of Mars, which SpaceX is pursuing with its Starship program.
  • Electric Aviation: While Musk has mentioned the possibility of electric planes, no concrete projects have been initiated, though it's an area of potential future innovation.
14. Twitter/X (2022–present)

  • Technology: Social media platforms, digital town squares
  • Details: Musk acquired Twitter (now rebranded as X) in 2022, intending to create an "everything app" that merges social media, payments, and services. He has focused on developing new features, content monetisation, and reducing spam on the platform.


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