Tesla is likely to be an electrical auto maker, however CEO Elon Musk has made clear that he thinks of it as rather more: an innovator in synthetic intelligence and software program, a builder of world-shaking robots. He’s additionally argued that Tesla ought to be price much more than it’s as we speak: as much as $20 trillion, he posted in July, greater than 5 occasions the present price of Nvidia.
Musk has additionally made it clear that he needs to receives a commission, quite a bit. In November, Tesla shareholders will vote on the board’s proposal to pay the CEO a outstanding $1 trillion over the subsequent decade. The deal would additionally enhance Musk’s stake in Tesla from 13 p.c to 1 / 4. However Musk would solely get that huge determine—and the additional management—if he hits a collection of bold metrics, together with 20 million automobiles delivered, 1 million robotaxis in business operation, and an $8.5 trillion valuation. And in addition, 1 million Optimus humanoid robots delivered.
On a name with traders on Wednesday, Musk locked on to that final level to make his most threatening argument for a huge payday but. “My elementary concern with regard to how a lot voting management I’ve at Tesla is, if I’m going forward and construct this huge robotic military, can I simply be ousted sooner or later sooner or later?” he mentioned. “If we construct this robotic military, do I’ve at the very least a powerful affect over this robotic military? Not management, however a powerful affect … I do not really feel snug constructing that robotic military until I’ve a powerful affect.”
Typically, Musk talks about Tesla’s Optimus venture as extra of a power for peace than warfare. He’s mentioned that Optimus will upend the job market and free humanity from the drudgery of labor. (“Working shall be non-obligatory, like rising your personal greens, as an alternative of shopping for them from the shop,” he posted this week.) Elsewhere on the investor name Wednesday, he mentioned that Tesla’s robots would “truly create a world the place there isn’t any poverty, the place everybody has entry to the best medical care.”
Optimus, he added, “shall be an unimaginable surgeon, and picture if everybody had entry to an unimaginable surgeon.” For Tesla, Optimus shall be “an infinite cash glitch,” Musk mentioned, arguing that everybody will need a humanoid robotic who can do their work for them.