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The Tesla whistleblower and the cost of taking on Elon Musk – podcast | Elon Musk


In November 2022, a whistleblower contacted investigative journalist Sönke Iwersen.

He could not give his name, he said, but he had access to huge amounts of data about Tesla, his former employer: private phone numbers, social security information, bank statements, documents stamped ‘top secret’, and much, much more.

It could not be real, Iwersen thought – his editor at the German newspaper Handelsblatt agreed. Still, he tells Helen Pidd, they kept digging. It was the start of a years-long investigation into Tesla, and a years-long relationship with the whistleblower, too.

Here, he shares what he learned – not only exposing serious safety concerns about Tesla’s famed autopilot, but giving a glimpse into the company culture under the leadership of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. ‘Narcissism’, says Iwersen.

His book detailing it all, The Tesla Files, written with fellow journalist Michael Verfürden, is out now.

Photograph: Reuters



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Driving Innovation in Learning and Research at Chula through AI – Chulalongkorn University

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On September 5, 2025, the Social Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University organized an international public lecture titled “AI in Higher Education for Innovation in Learning & Research”, delivered by Dr. Muthu Kumar Chandrasekaran, an expert in artificial intelligence and computer technology and former Applied Science Manager at Amazon AI, at Chula Narumit House. The event was officially opened by Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, with Associate Professor Dr. Unruan Leknoi, Director of the Social Research Institute, delivering the welcoming remarks. A panel discussion followed, featuring Dr. Philip Soung Soo Cho, a researcher at Chula’s Social Research Institute. 

AI in Higher Education: Driving Innovation in Learning and Research at Chula 
Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat
 President, Chulalongkorn University
Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat
President, Chulalongkorn University
Associate Professor Dr. Unruan Leknoi
 Director, Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University
Associate Professor Dr. Unruan Leknoi
Director, Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University
 Dr. Muthu Kumar Chandrasekaran
 Expert in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Technology and former Applied Science Manager, Amazon AI
Dr. Muthu Kumar Chandrasekaran
Expert in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Technology and former Applied Science Manager, Amazon AI

The lecture aimed to create a platform for knowledge exchange on Artificial Intelligence (AI) between international experts and Thai academics. It also sought to provide guidance on enhancing the quality of teaching and research in Thai universities to meet global standards. 

The session shared best practices for applying AI to improve teaching and research. The evolution began during the MOOC era (2012–2020), with platforms such as Coursera, Canvas Network, Diversity, and Udacity

In the pre-Generative AI era, AI applications focused on:

  • Automated grading systems 
  • Assessing participation in online classrooms 
  • Scripted intelligent tutoring systems 

In the current era of Generative AI and Agentic AI, developments have become more personalized, enabling the creation of personal AI tutors and positioning AI as a key tool for future learning. 

The event brought about greater opportunities for collaboration between Chulalongkorn University and global academic and tech experts, reinforcing Thailand’s role in the international AI discourse. 

The lecture emphasized the need to equip the new generation with AI literacy, ensuring sustainable innovation. It also stressed the importance of:

  • Developing inclusive AI policies 
  • Investing in technology and education 
  • Ensuring equitable access to AI tools and infrastructure 

Despite AI’s potential to disrupt future labor markets and the growing concern over job displacement, it also presents new career opportunities. To adapt, reskilling and upskilling of the workforce remain essential, as people are the core driving force behind national progress. Sustainable investment in data centers was also highlighted as a key factor. 



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This 30-year-old CEO says his AI negotiator can successfully haggle down the price of a car by thousands of dollars

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Zach Shefska claims his artificial intelligence can negotiate better car deals than most humans ever could. The 30-year-old chief executive of CarEdge, which he founded with his father Ray in July 2020, says his company’s AI negotiator has saved customers thousands of dollars by handling the back-and-forth haggling that typically makes car buying such a dreaded experience.

Shefska told Fortune the AI negotiator took about four months to develop. “We launched it on July 17th and have helped over 2,000 paying customers,” he said. The system is built on top of existing large language models but enhanced with CarEdge’s proprietary market insights and negotiation training. “CarEdge creates instances of AI agents that are deployed on behalf of users. The agents have proprietary market insights and negotiation training from CarEdge. Each agent creates a unique email and phone number and contacts dealers on behalf of customers,” Shefska told Fortune.

The idea emerged from a simple frustration. “Consumers don’t want to get screwed,” Shefska told PYMNTS in an interview. “And it’s not even necessarily about getting the best price; it’s just not wanting to be taken advantage of.”

CarEdge’s AI negotiator works simply: Customers specify exactly what vehicle they want, and the AI creates anonymous email addresses and phone numbers to contact dealerships directly. The artificial intelligence then handles all the price negotiations while keeping the buyer’s personal information completely private.

Notably, the service isn’t free. Customers pay $40 for a month of access without auto-renewal. “Customers pay because we do not want car dealers to be flooded with users who are simply testing the tech,” Shefska told Fortune. “The goal is for only those who are highly qualified and serious shoppers to leverage the agent to help save them time and money.”

According to CarEdge, though, the results speak for themselves. In one example cited by the company, CarEdge’s AI negotiated a Toyota RAV4 from an initial dealer quote of $37,356 down to $35,600—a savings of nearly $1,800. Customer testimonials published on CarEdge’s website show even bigger wins, with the company claiming that one man, Brian G., reported CarEdge helped him get a 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid for “$4,000 under MSRP after fees.” Another customer testimonial on the site, attributed to Wes S., says he secured a 2023 Corvette C8 for $5,000 under sticker price.

“On average the agent saves users over $1,000 and ~5 hours of back and forth with dealers via email and text,” Shefska told Fortune. CarEdge says the AI negotiator has been deployed over 10,000 times since launching, collecting pricing data from thousands of dealerships across the country.

CarEdge

The negotiation advantage

What gives the AI such an edge? Unlike consumers who buy cars every three to five years, the artificial intelligence negotiates deals constantly, learning from each interaction. CarEdge has fed the system six years of pricing data from hundreds of thousands of car transactions, giving it deep insights into what constitutes a fair deal.

The AI also eliminates the emotional and psychological pressures that often derail human negotiations. It doesn’t get flustered by high-pressure sales tactics or feel rushed to make a decision. Instead, it methodically compares offers, identifies hidden fees, and pushes for better terms with the persistence of a seasoned negotiator.

According to CarEdge, one customer looking for a Honda Accord got to experience the benefits firsthand when the AI negotiator managed 13 back-and-forth messages with a dealer and ultimately saved him $1,280 off the original out-the-door price.

Beyond the financial savings, the AI negotiator addresses another major pain point in car shopping: privacy invasion. Traditional car shopping websites often expose buyers to a barrage of spam calls and emails from multiple dealerships. CarEdge’s system flips this dynamic entirely: The AI absorbs all the dealer communications while the customer stays anonymous until they’re ready to make a purchase.

This approach has resonated with consumers increasingly concerned about data privacy. The AI uses what CarEdge calls “protected alias” contact information, ensuring that dealers never get access to the buyer’s real phone number or email address during negotiations.

Buying cars in the future

CarEdge’s AI negotiator represents part of a larger transformation in how high-value transactions are conducted. Just as real estate has buyer’s agents, Shefska envisions a future where AI agents routinely handle complex negotiations on behalf of consumers.

As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated and car buying remains one of consumers’ most stressful retail experiences, tools like CarEdge’s AI negotiator may become standard practice. For an industry built on information asymmetry and adversarial relationships, that change can’t come soon enough.

For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.



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AI analysis aids pancreatic cancer prognostication

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By Lynda Williams, medwireNews Reporter

medwireNews: Artificial intelligence can expedite assessment of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and immune phenotype identification in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, research demonstrates.

This independent news story was supported by an educational grant from L’Institut Servier, Suresnes, France.

Read the full story on the L’Institut Servier website

Image credit: © Matthieu / stock.adobe.com



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