Starlink Phones Home, FSD Hits European Highways, and The Boring Company’s Ambitious Tunnel Talks Introduction

Welcome to the inaugural post of New MuskNews, your new daily source for the latest updates on Elon Musk’s visionary companies: SpaceX, Tesla, xAI, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and more. Our mission is to keep you informed about groundbreaking innovations, from autonomous driving to Mars colonization, with a European lens but a global perspective. Today, we dive into Starlink’s direct-to-phone connectivity, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) expansion in Europe, and The Boring Company’s $8.5B Amtrak tunnel proposal. We’ll explore nuances, link to primary sources, highlight upcoming developments, address critiques, and unpack the game-changing potential of these advancements. Plus, we’ll set the stage for recurring quarterly updates and share ideas to make this blog a passive income stream. Let’s get started!

Today’s Key Developments

1. Starlink’s Direct-to-Phone Connectivity Breakthrough
   • What’s New: Elon Musk announced that Starlink can now provide high-speed, low-latency internet directly to unmodified smartphones, no extra hardware needed. This milestone leverages Starlink’s growing satellite constellation, with 13 of the 23 satellites launched on May 20, 2025, featuring Direct to Cell capabilities. source
   • Nuances: This technology uses advanced satellite beams to connect directly to standard smartphones, bypassing traditional cellular towers. It’s a game-changer for rural and underserved areas, but urban environments may face challenges due to signal interference. Regulatory hurdles, especially in Europe, could delay widespread adoption as telecom regulators scrutinize Starlink’s impact on existing networks.
   • Potential: Direct-to-phone connectivity could democratize internet access, enabling education, remote work, and economic growth in regions with limited infrastructure. Musk claims it will “do more to educate and lift people out of poverty than any NGO ever.” In Europe, this could bridge digital divides in rural areas like the Scottish Highlands or remote Greek islands. source
   • Critiques: X posts highlight concerns about network congestion if millions of phones connect simultaneously. Astronomers also criticize Starlink’s satellites for interfering with telescope observations. Some European regulators worry about data privacy and compliance with GDPR. source
2. Tesla’s FSD Approved for European Highways
   • What’s New: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology has received regulatory approval for use on European highways, a significant step toward broader autonomous driving adoption. This follows Tesla’s claims that FSD could be safer than human drivers by Q2 2025. source
   • Nuances: The approval is limited to highways, reflecting Europe’s cautious approach to autonomous vehicles. Tesla’s neural network, trained on its Dojo supercomputer, processes vast amounts of driving data to improve FSD’s performance. However, urban environments with complex traffic patterns remain a challenge, and European regulators demand rigorous safety data.
   • Potential: FSD’s highway approval paves the way for Tesla’s robotaxi network, potentially launching in California and Texas in 2025, with Europe to follow. This could transform mobility, allowing Tesla owners to monetize their cars via ride-sharing. In Europe, where public transport is robust, FSD could complement high-speed rail and urban transit systems.
   • Critiques: X users express skepticism about FSD’s readiness for Europe’s diverse road conditions, from narrow Italian streets to German Autobahns. Some criticize Tesla’s data collection practices, raising privacy concerns under GDPR. Others note that Musk’s political alignment with Trump has alienated eco-conscious European Tesla buyers. source
   • Source: Tesla Q3 2024 Earnings Call
3. The Boring Company’s $8.5B Amtrak Tunnel Proposal
• What’s New: The Boring Company is negotiating an $8.5 billion deal with Amtrak to build high-speed rail tunnels, building on its Las Vegas test tunnel success. The project aims to reduce urban congestion and travel times. source
• Nuances: The Boring Company’s tunnels use Tesla-powered electric pods traveling at up to 240 km/h. The Amtrak project could connect major U.S. cities, but its high cost and environmental impact (e.g., construction emissions) are under scrutiny. European applications, such as tunnels under Amsterdam or London, could follow if the U.S. project succeeds.
• Potential: High-speed underground transport could revolutionize commuting, offering “teleportation-like” travel. In Europe, this could ease congestion in cities like Paris or Brussels, integrating with existing rail networks. The Boring Company’s battery-powered tunneling machines also reduce emissions compared to traditional methods.
• Critiques: X posts question the project’s feasibility due to its massive cost and past delays in The Boring Company’s projects. Environmentalists argue that public transit investments should prioritize affordability over high-tech solutions. Some European urban planners doubt tunnels can scale to dense cities.

Upcoming Developments to Watch

• SpaceX’s Starship and Mars Talk (Next Week): Musk will deliver a live-streamed company talk at Starbase, Texas, detailing SpaceX’s Mars colonization plans and Starship’s next test flight. This could include timelines for lunar missions or crewed Mars flights. Watch for updates on X or SpaceX’s YouTube channel.
• Tesla Bot (Optimus) Milestones: Tesla plans to deploy Optimus robots for factory tasks by late 2025, with consumer availability targeted for 2026. Musk recently warned of potential supply chain issues due to Chinese export restrictions on rare earth magnets, critical for Optimus.
• Neuralink’s Expanded Trials: Neuralink is partnering with the UAE and Cleveland Clinic for human trials, aiming for a Blindsight implant to restore vision within 12 months. This follows a 2022 demo where a monkey played Pong using brain signals.
• Dojo Supercomputer Scaling: Tesla’s Dojo, used to train FSD and Optimus, is expanding its compute power. Musk hints at selling Dojo’s AI training as a service, potentially creating a new revenue stream. Expect updates in Tesla’s Q1 2025 earnings call.
• Cybertruck in Europe: Musk has hinted at a 2025 Cybertruck release in Europe, though a redesign may be needed to meet EU regulations. This could boost Tesla’s European market share.

Critiques and Potential

• Critiques:
  • Starlink: Regulatory resistance in Europe and concerns about satellite pollution impacting astronomy are growing. GDPR compliance for data-heavy services remains a hurdle. source
  • FSD: European drivers and regulators are skeptical of FSD’s urban readiness and data privacy. Musk’s political stances have led to “Tesla shame” among eco-conscious buyers, with new registrations nearly halving in early 2025.
  • The Boring Company: High costs and environmental concerns could stall the Amtrak project. European cities may resist tunnels due to urban density and existing infrastructure.
  • General Sentiment: Musk’s role at DOGE and his Trump affiliation have polarized fans. Some X users call him a “krankzinnige nazi,” while others praise his anti-bureaucracy efforts. Tesla’s stock has lost nearly a third of its value since January 2025, reflecting investor concerns.
• Potential:
• Starlink: Could connect millions in rural Europe, fostering economic growth and education. It may also support disaster response by providing instant connectivity.
• FSD and Tesla Bots: Autonomous driving and humanoid robots could create a $5 trillion market, with Tesla leading. FSD’s European expansion could integrate with smart cities, while Optimus could automate logistics in ports like Rotterdam.
• The Boring Company: Tunnels could reduce congestion in European megacities, complementing high-speed rail like Eurostar. Battery-powered tunneling aligns with EU sustainability goals.
• SpaceX and Neuralink: Mars colonization and brain-computer interfaces offer long-term potential to redefine humanity’s future, from multi-planetary life to cognitive enhancement.

Is Today a Big News Day?

Verdict: Today is a moderately significant day, warranting one comprehensive article rather than multiple. The Starlink direct-to-phone announcement is a major milestone, but FSD’s European approval and The Boring Company’s Amtrak talks are incremental updates.