JWSC

Beats said:

JWSC said:

I’ve been skeptical all along that Apple could pull this off.  News of Apple having talks with existing auto manufacturers got my hopes up slightly.  But it bears asking repeatedly, what can Apple offer that no one else can?   Are they working on some mind blowing new technology integration solution that takes human factors and UI to a new level?

Tesla’s AI is monstrously superior to anything else out there and they’ve got hundreds of millions of miles of road data to input into that AI.  You can’t do it all with modeling and simulation.  Tesla along with Panasonic have done their homework on battery technology.  Tesla has refined the electric motor to new levels of performance.  Tesla autos are among the safest in the industry.

It would have been really cool to see the industrial design of an Apple car.  I have no doubt that Apple could’ve done a better job than anyone else in design, ergonomics, and UI.  But cool design is not enough.  I’m glad Apple spent the time investigating the possibility of an Apple car. They probably learned a lot while doing it.  But it may be time to sunset this project.  Just get me my Mac Studio.  We’ll still love you Apple.

So Apple should end their legacy at Mac Studio and shut down tomorrow?

please, Apple needs to keep pushing technology forward and they can do a lot with the Car. Your reply reminds me of the articles praising blackberry before the iPhone. 

Hey!  The Blackberry reference stings!  

Here's what I imagine could have happened to Apple's so-called Titan team.  Apple was doing cool things with batteries.  Then Tesla had their Battery Day and Apple said, "Well, we're not going to deliver the Apple car with this battery."  Apple was doing cool things with their AI software.  Then Tesla had their AI Day and Apple said, "Well, we're not going to deliver the Apple car with this AI."  It may have been just like the Google Android team that was developing a smart phone felt the morning of January 9, 2007 when Steve introduced the iPhone.  Android team: "We're going to have to start over."

I'm not saying that anything like that actually happened at Apple or at least happened in that way.  But Tesla is a hard and fast moving target to chase down.  Love him or hate him, Elon Musk is a powerful and visionary motivator, with extraordinary technical chops.  This is one area where Steve's passing has left a gap that remains unfilled, and perhaps will never be again.

mjtomlin said:

JWSC said:

Tesla’s AI is monstrously superior to anything else out there and they’ve got hundreds of millions of miles of road data to input into that AI.  You can’t do it all with modeling and simulation.  Tesla along with Panasonic have done their homework on battery technology.  Tesla has refined the electric motor to new levels of performance.  Tesla autos are among the safest in the industry..

How many miles of data does Apple have from it’s street mapping endeavor? They could’ve also been training an AI model on the road. So Apple has the data as well.In fact, I would say Apple had more types of data in every time of situation, since their cars go up and down EVERY road.

Tesla vehicle road miles have to be at least two if not 3 or 4 orders of magnitude greater than that of Apple's mapping fleet.  So, not even close.  If you didn't watch Tesla's AI Day I suggest you should.  It'll be an eye opener.

foregoneconclusion said:

JWSC said: Tesla’s AI is monstrously superior to anything else out there and they’ve got hundreds of millions of miles of road data to input into that AI.  You can’t do it all with modeling and simulation.  Tesla along with Panasonic have done their homework on battery technology.  Tesla has refined the electric motor to new levels of performance.  Tesla autos are among the safest in the industry.

Other car manufacturers have already caught up to Tesla in terms of quality/battery/charging/styling etc. As for the AI part, Tesla's driver assist tech is arguably a waste of time since the driver is supposed to be paying attention to what the car AI is doing, which isn't really that different from simply driving the car without AI. 

Other car manufacturers have definitely NOT caught up to Tesla in terms of battery technology.  They continue to lag in electric motor design, safety, and AI.  Egregiously, the ICE manufacturers currently in transition have chosen to retrofit BEV technology in auto frames designed for ICE.  Idiocy.  Driven by cost saving bean counters no doubt.

I am very interested in what Lucid, Rivian, and the other new BEV entrants have to offer.  But until they get through their own version of "production hell" it's all talk and no action.  The ICE makers of old are still acting like dinosaurs.  I've been watching them for four decades.  It's the same-ol'-same-old.

I’ve been skeptical all along that Apple could pull this off.  News of Apple having talks with existing auto manufacturers got my hopes up slightly.  But it bears asking repeatedly, what can Apple offer that no one else can?   Are they working on some mind blowing new technology integration solution that takes human factors and UI to a new level?

Tesla’s AI is monstrously superior to anything else out there and they’ve got hundreds of millions of miles of road data to input into that AI.  You can’t do it all with modeling and simulation.  Tesla along with Panasonic have done their homework on battery technology.  Tesla has refined the electric motor to new levels of performance.  Tesla autos are among the safest in the industry.

It would have been really cool to see the industrial design of an Apple car.  I have no doubt that Apple could’ve done a better job than anyone else in design, ergonomics, and UI.  But cool design is not enough.  I’m glad Apple spent the time investigating the possibility of an Apple car. They probably learned a lot while doing it.  But it may be time to sunset this project.  Just get me my Mac Studio.  We’ll still love you Apple.

AppleInsider said:

With the exception of companies supplying food, fuel, and essential goods or services, all businesses were ordered to close or implement work-from-home policies. It is expected that the lockdown will persist until March 20 at the earliest.

Hey, my Mac Studio is an essential good. So…