<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div><p><strong>The Future Fund LLC </strong>Managing Director, <strong>Gary Black</strong>, warned investors on Friday that <strong>Tesla Inc.</strong>‘s <span>TSLA</span> Robotaxi app download surge shouldn’t be interpreted as a bullish signal.</p><h2>Market Analyst Cautions Against Over-Optimism</h2><p>Writing on X, Black noted <strong>Apple Inc. </strong><span>AAPL</span> ranks apps based on download velocity, making one-time rushes incomparable to established applications.</p><h2>Download Data Shows Mixed Market Response</h2><p>Tesla’s Robotaxi app outpaced <strong>Uber Technologies Inc.</strong>‘s <span>UBER</span> 30-day downloads by 40%, according to <strong>ARK Invest </strong>data. The app also exceeded <strong>Alphabet Inc.</strong>‘s <span>GOOGL</span> <span>GOOG</span> <strong>Waymo</strong> lifetime downloads by six times. </p><p>Despite these metrics, Tesla stock has underperformed since the June 22 Austin launch, declining 4% while the Nasdaq gained 9%.</p><h2>Limited Service Availability Remains A Challenge</h2><p>Black emphasized that the Robotaxi service operates in only two markets, with safety monitors still present. “The Robotaxi experience isn’t much different than taking an Uber, and wait times are sure to be much longer,” he stated. The app launched on Thursday on iOS, requiring users to join a waitlist before accessing the service.</p><h2>Musk’s Apple Battle Over AI App Rankings</h2><p><strong>Elon Musk</strong>‘s <strong>xAI</strong> and <strong>X </strong>platform sued Apple and <strong>OpenAI</strong> in August, alleging antitrust violations and favoritism toward ChatGPT over xAI’s Grok app. Musk claimed Apple made it “impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store,” threatening immediate legal action. </p><p>Despite Grok’s million reviews averaging 4.9 stars, Apple excluded it from the “Must Have” section while featuring ChatGPT.</p><h2>Regulatory Developments Support Expansion</h2><p>U.S. Transportation Secretary <strong>Sean Duffy </strong>proposed easing autonomous vehicle regulations, revising Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards originally designed for human drivers. Tesla announced its Austin Robotaxi service now operates on highways with onboard safety operators moving from passenger to driver seats.</p><p>Tesla traded at $341.35, up 2.17%, in pre-market Friday. Black’s firm maintains no position in Tesla shares but wouldn’t short the stock.</p><ul> <li><strong>Google Services Crash: Gmail, YouTube, Maps Reportedly Experience Major Outages Across Eastern Europe, US Cities</strong></li> </ul><p><em>Photo courtesy: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com</em></p></div></div></div>

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<p>Gary Black, Managing Director of Future Fund LLC, cautioned investors that Tesla's surge in downloads for its Robotaxi app should not be seen as a bullish sign. Despite outperforming Uber and Waymo in download metrics, Tesla's stock has declined 4% since its June launch, while the Nasdaq rose 9%. The Robotaxi service is limited to two markets and has long wait times. Additionally, regulatory changes may support expansion, but Black's firm holds no position in Tesla shares.</p>

- Gary Black, Managing Director of Future Fund LLC, cautioned that the surge in downloads of Tesla's Robotaxi app should not be seen as a positive indicator for investors.  
- Despite the app's impressive download numbers, surpassing competitors like Uber and Waymo, Tesla's stock has declined 4% since its launch, while the Nasdaq rose 9%.  
- Black highlighted the limited service availability and ongoing safety monitoring as challenges, noting that the Robotaxi experience is similar to using Uber, with longer wait times expected.  

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Tesla's Apple App Store Rank Race With Uber, Waymo Isn't Bullish, Says Gary Black As TSLA Stock Still Trails Nasdaq