Elon tried to buy rocket from Putin? Musk's dad drops 2nd bombshell on Trump
Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, recounted how Elon was rejected when he tried to buy a rocket in Russia, with Russian officials dismissing his request as a joke. This incident, which occurred before Musk founded SpaceX, ultimately motivated him to start building rockets himself, leading to the creation of SpaceX's own launch vehicles
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Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk wants to retrain XAI's chatbot Grok to clear 'ChatGPT's woke' and .... Garbage
Representative Image Elon Musk the founder of xAI has said that he will retrain his artificial intelligence chatbot and ChatGPT rival Grok . Musk took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and shared a post stating that he will be removing what he terms "ChatGPT's woke" biases and other "garbage" from the foundational knowledge of Grok. Elon Musk to retrain chatbot Grok In a series of posts shared on X, Elon Musk announced that the upcoming version of Grok likely to be called as Grok 4 will trained on the revised information curated by Grok 3.5's advanced reasoning capabilities. 'We will use Grok 3.5… to rewrite the entire corpus of human knowledge, adding missing information and deleting errors,' Musk wrote, adding that current AI models are trained on 'far too much garbage'. This move from Elon Musk comes after his repeated criticism of rival AI model — ChatGPT. Musk has criticised ChatGPT for what he perceives as a "woke mind virus" or ideological slant in their responses. Musk has also asked the users to submit their 'divisive facts' which will be used in the retraining of Grok. 'Please reply to this post with divisive facts for @Grok training. By this I mean things that are politically incorrect, but nonetheless factually true', wrote Musk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Elon Musk's xAI issues clarification on Grok's responses on white genocide Recently, some X users reported that Grok repeatedly generated responses referring to the theory of "white genocide" in South Africa. Users who tagged @grok in posts about sports, entertainment, and general topics received replies discussing racial violence in South Africa, including references to the anti-apartheid chant 'Kill the Boer'. After this, Elon Musk's xAI issued a clarification for this incident. In a statement shared on X, xAI said that the modification in Grok violated the internal policies and core values, leading the chatbot to repeatedly reference politically sensitive topics. The company stated that the change was detected and reversed promptly, though it did not disclose who was responsible for the alteration.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Highest in two years': India increases oil imports from Russia, US amidst Iran-Israel war; why it's about strategic positioning, not panic
Indian refiners are expected to purchase 2-2.2 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in June, reaching a two-year peak. (AI image) Iran-Israel conflict impact: India has increased its Russian oil procurement in June, with import volumes surpassing the combined purchases from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, amidst market instability following Israel's significant offensive against Iran. India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, acquired approximately 5.1 million barrels of crude oil internationally, which refineries process into products such as petrol and diesel. According to preliminary analysis by global trade analytics firm Kpler quoted in a PTI report, Indian refiners are expected to purchase 2-2.2 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in June, reaching a two-year peak and exceeding the total quantities acquired from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. India's Shift To Russia, US Oil Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India shifted its oil procurement strategy significantly. The nation, which historically relied on Middle Eastern supplies, began substantial Russian oil imports due to attractive discounts resulting from Western sanctions and European boycotts. Russian oil imports to India measured 1.96 million barrels per day (bpd) in May. American oil shipments to India increased to 439,000 bpd in June, significantly higher than the 280,000 bpd acquired in the preceding month. Kpler's projections indicate Middle Eastern imports for the complete month will approximate 2 million bpd, showing a reduction from the previous month's acquisitions. India's shift has been substantial, with Russian oil imports rising dramatically from under 1 per cent to approximately 40-44 per cent of India's total crude purchases within a brief timeframe. Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining & Modeling at Kpler noted the substantial changes in India's import approach over the past two oil varieties (Urals, ESPO, Sokol) operate independently of Hormuz, utilising alternative routes via the Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, or Pacific Ocean. Indian refineries have developed adaptable refining and payment systems, whilst enhancing operations for diverse crude options. Alternative sources from the US, West Africa, and Latin America, despite higher costs, present increasingly feasible alternatives. Iran-Israel war : Growing Middle East Tensions & India Impact Currently, oil supply chains remain stable despite Middle Eastern tensions. "While supplies remain unaffected so far, vessel activity suggests a decline in crude loadings from the Middle East in the coming days," Ritolia was quoted as saying. "Shipowners are hesitant to send empty tankers (ballasters) into the Gulf, with the number of such vessels dropping from 69 to just 40, and (Middle East and Gulf) MEG-bound signals from the Gulf of Oman halving." The current MEG availability is expected to become more constrained shortly, which could necessitate India to reconsider its procurement approach. The Strait of Hormuz, positioned between Iran's northern border and the southern territories of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, functions as the primary channel for petroleum exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and the UAE. The waterway also accommodates substantial liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation, particularly from Qatar. With increasing military tensions between Israel and Iran, the latter has indicated possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which facilitates one-fifth of global oil movement and significant LNG exports. Also Read | Iran-Israel conflict: India keeping tab on Chabahar Port, International North-South Transport Corridor; why it's important India's dependence on this maritime route is substantial, with 40 per cent of its oil imports and half of its gas requirements passing through this narrow passage. Kpler reports that apprehensions regarding potential Strait of Hormuz closure have grown following Israel's offensive actions targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Iranian hardline elements have suggested closure, and state media outlets predict oil prices could reach $400 per barrel. "Yet, Kpler analysis assigns a very low probability to a full blockade, citing strong disincentives for Iran," Ritolia said. India Insulated? India's crude imports from Russia and the United States in June demonstrate this stability-focused combination. If conflict deepens or there is any short-term disruption in Hormuz, Russian barrels will rise in share, offering both physical availability and pricing relief. India could increase its reliance on the United States, Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil, despite higher transportation expenses. Additionally, India has the option to utilise its strategic reserves, which cover approximately 9-10 days of imports, to address any deficits. The administration could implement price support measures to control inflation if domestic rates increase, particularly for diesel and LPG. Also Read | India bleeds Pakistan dry: Water at 'dead' levels in Pakistan's dams; bigger Indus river plans in the works - top points to know During June 1st to 19th, Russian crude imports to India reached approximately 2.1-2.2 million barrels per day (bpd), sustaining Russia's position with over 35 per cent of India's overall crude imports. This trend has remained stable throughout the previous 30 months. American crude imports to India measured around 439,000 bpd in the identical period, indicating growing trade relationships across the Atlantic and India's strategy to diversify its oil sources. India's crude oil imports in June 2025 reflect a calculated strategic approach rather than a panic response. Russian petroleum serves as both a practical and economic buffer, complemented by supplies from the United States and Atlantic Basin that provide additional supply alternatives. Despite the Middle East's continued significance, particularly for crude and LPG supplies, Indian refineries now have enhanced capabilities to address supply disruptions swiftly. The Strait of Hormuz continues to be a critical passage with minimal risk but substantial potential impact, prompting India's refining industry to establish systems ensuring operational continuity, adaptability and durability. Counter-productivity of blocking Strait of Hormuz Meanwhile, China's position as Iran's primary oil customer, importing 47 per cent of seaborne crude from the Middle East Gulf, creates significant implications for Iran. Iran's heavy dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports through Kharg Island, which manages 96 per cent of its exports, makes any self-imposed blockade counterproductive. Over the past two years, Tehran has actively worked to restore diplomatic relations with major regional players, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These nations heavily rely on the Strait for their exports and have expressed opposition to Israel's actions. Disrupting their oil flows could jeopardise Iran's recent diplomatic achievements. Also Read | Iran-Israel conflict: How will blocking of Strait of Hormuz hit India? Indian refiners look at alternative routes for fuel supply A blockade would inevitably trigger an international military response. US and allied forces could detect any Iranian naval preparations beforehand, potentially leading to pre-emptive action. According to Kpler, even limited sabotage attempts would only interrupt flows for 24-48 hours, as US forces could neutralise Iran's conventional naval capabilities within this timeframe. Such actions would result in military consequences and strain diplomatic relations with Oman, compromising Iran's existing communication channels with the US. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
5 things world's richest man says he will never own
Elon Musk is the world's richest person, but he doesn't live like a typical billionaire. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has a total net worth of $409 billion, as per Forbes. He once said that he avoids spending money on things most wealthy people enjoy – like mansions, fancy food or expensive cars. Musk, on the contrary, prefers a simple lifestyle with very few belongings. In an X post in May 2020, he wrote 'I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house'. The tech billionaire, in a Joe Rogan podcast has also said 'I think possessions kind of weigh you down. They're kind of an attack vector.' Over the years, Musk has made it clear that he doesn't care much for luxury, even if he can afford it. Here are five things that he said will never own Elon Musk sold 7 homes in 2 years Between 2020 and 2021, the billionaire sold seven of his California homes for about $100 million. The tech CEO, then reportedly moved into a smaller Boxabl home near the SpaceX site in Texas. According to reports, the house is only 375 square feet in size, which is smaller than some studio apartments, and is worth $0,000. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Musk learned to survive on $1 a day for food During a previous interview on Neil deGrasse Tyson's, the X owner said that during his early startup days, he lived on fast food and spent every spare dollar on his business. He stated that at 17 he tested if he could live on just $1 a day for food. Describing the experiment as "StarTalk", Musk then said 'In America it's pretty easy to keep yourself alive. So my threshold for existing was pretty low. I figured I could be in some dingy apartment with my computer and be okay, and not starve.' Google founder Larry Page about Elon Musk crashing at his home Google co-founder Larry Page has previously shared that Musk sometimes asked to crash at his house when he had nowhere else to stay. In a 2022 TED talk, Elon Musk said, 'I don't even own a place right now, I'm literally staying at friends' places.' Musk owns no expensive furniture Musk's former partner Grimes once told Vanity Fair that he lived 'at times below the poverty line.' During the interview in March 2022, she said 'Bro does not live like a billionaire' adding 'Bro lives at times below the poverty line.' She then recalled staying in a '$40,000 house' with no security and a mattress that had a hole in it. Instead of replacing the mattress, Musk told her they should just 'switch sides.' Musk crashed a McLaren, but never replaced it According to a Benzinga report, Musk once bought a $1 million McLaren F1 but crashed it while showing it off. 'Watch this,' he said before losing control of the car. It flew into the air and crashed. 'It wasn't insured,' he later admitted. The billionaire never replaced it and now mostly drives Tesla cars. 5 Must-Have Gadgets for Your Next Beach Holiday to Stay Safe, Cool & Connected AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
