Tesla's Vice President, Ashok Elluswamy, Grants Uncommon Interview [Access Video Here]

Tesla's Vice President, Ashok Elluswamy, Grants Uncommon Interview [Access Video Here]

Tesla's AI Vice President Shares Exclusive Insights on AI, FSD, and Optimus

In a rare interview, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's Vice President of AI Software, discussed the company's ambitious plans for artificial intelligence (AI) integration, the future of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) program, and the development of the Optimus humanoid robot.

AI Integration in Electric Vehicles

Tesla is heavily investing in AI, with its in-house developed AI inference chip embedded in every Tesla car. The upcoming AI5 chip is expected to be significantly powerful, with functionality so advanced that Elon Musk noted it would need to be "nerfed" for markets outside the U.S. due to export restrictions. Tesla uses extensive simulation, including a photo-realistic digital recreation of San Francisco, to train and improve Autopilot/FSD systems, complementing real-world data collected from a growing beta user base.

Full Self-Driving (FSD) Program

Adoption of FSD in North America has increased by about 25% since version 12 launched last year, with Tesla reporting that vehicles using FSD are 10 times safer than those without it. Despite this, many Tesla owners remain unaware of FSD’s capabilities or have never tried it. Tesla is actively promoting FSD usage through service centers and targeted driving scenario prompts. The monthly fee for FSD remains at $99, effectively a very affordable personal driver service. Tesla's RoboTaxi service, launched in Austin, is scaling with over 7,000 miles driven and expanding vehicle numbers and service area rapidly. There have been no notable safety-critical incidents reported so far.

Optimus Humanoid Robot Development

The Optimus humanoid robot project is entering a critical phase. The third version’s design is nearly finalized without major flaws, and a prototype is expected by the end of 2025, with mass production anticipated to start early 2026. Tesla aims to scale production to around one million units annually within five years, transitioning robots from rarity to commonality, changing day-to-day human-robot interaction dramatically. The Optimus lab continuously operates testing robots around the clock, described as resembling a "set from Westworld".

Behind-the-Scenes Stories

Elluswamy, who was the first engineer hired for Tesla's Autopilot team in 2014, shared behind-the-scenes stories of developing the Optimus humanoid robot. He described Elon Musk as a highly driven leader with an intense work ethic, sharp technical instincts, and a surprising sense of humor.

Future Advancements

Elluswamy also hinted at future advancements in AI-driven robotics and autonomous technology. The interview provided exclusive insights into Tesla's humanoid robot program, Optimus.

Before joining Tesla, Elluswamy gained experience at Volkswagen's Electronic Research Lab and WABCO Vehicle Control Systems. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai, and a master's degree in Robotics System Development from Carnegie Mellon University.

Elon Musk works 80 to 90 hours per week and is known for taking risks. He is described as very smart and capable of predicting the future early. The full interview can be watched below with Closed Captioning (CC) for an English translation.

[1] https://www.tesla.com/ai [2] https://www.tesla.com/news/tesla-ai-day-2022 [3] https://www.tesla.com/blog/tesla-ai-day-2022-recap [5] https://www.tesla.com/safety

Technology plays a crucial role in Tesla's ambitious plans, as the company invests heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) to drive advancements in their electric vehicles. Artificial Intelligence, such as the upcoming AI5 chip, is embedded in every Tesla car to enhance features like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD), with extensive simulation and real-world data used for training and improvement. The development of Optimus, a humanoid robot, also relies on AI, with a prototype expected by the end of 2025. These advancements in AI-driven robotics and autonomous technology will continue to shape Tesla's future.

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