Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made headlines again after a recent interview with BBC's James Clayton on Twitter Spaces, where he claimed that his dog is now running Twitter. This statement follows Musk's recent action of painting over the "w" in the Twitter sign at the company's headquarters in San Francisco, turning it into "Titter." While Musk attempted to be humorous during the interview, he also shared key points about Twitter's current state, including its reduced workforce and financial struggles.
During the interview, Musk expressed sympathy for the many Twitter employees that were laid off, but he avoided answering questions about whether they should have been given prior notice. When Clayton questioned the rise of misinformation and fake news on Twitter since Musk took over, he asked the interviewer to name one example from personal use. However, there are studies that point to an increase in "misinformation superspreaders" on Musk's Twitter.
Musk admitted that shutting down a Twitter data center in December 2022 was "quite catastrophic" and that Twitter is currently bleeding money. However, he claims that the social media platform is on the path to being cashflow positive "within months." Musk also acknowledged that he has made mistakes with his tweets in the past, shooting himself in the foot "multiple times." He even joked that he should probably stop tweeting after 3 a.m. and that he needs bulletproof shoes at this point.
The most significant revelation from the interview was Musk's confession that he ultimately went through with the Twitter acquisition deal because he felt the court would make him do it. When Clayton asked who was currently running Twitter, Musk stated that it was his dog, Floki, who is "a great dog" and wears a black turtleneck. Musk previously stated that he would abide by the results of a Twitter poll in which users decided he should step down as CEO.
It is essential to note that Musk's claims of his dog running Twitter are likely a joke. However, his interview raises concerns about Twitter's current state, with a reduced workforce and financial struggles. Additionally, the rise of misinformation and fake news on the platform is a growing concern, as studies have shown that some high-profile accounts have become "misinformation superspreaders."
In conclusion, Elon Musk's recent interview with the BBC's James Clayton on Twitter Spaces made headlines for his claim that his dog is running Twitter. While Musk attempted to be humorous, the interview shed light on Twitter's current state, with a reduced workforce and financial struggles. The rise of misinformation and fake news on the platform is also a growing concern. Regardless of the humor, the interview shows that Twitter has several issues that need to be addressed.