Tesla is likely to be an electrical auto maker, however CEO Elon Musk has made clear that he thinks of it as way more: an innovator in synthetic intelligence and software program, a builder of world-shaking robots. He’s additionally argued that Tesla needs to be value much more than it’s at this time: as much as $20 trillion, he posted in July, greater than 5 instances the present value of Nvidia.
Musk has additionally made it clear that he needs to receives a commission, loads. In November, Tesla shareholders will vote on the board’s proposal to pay the CEO a exceptional $1 trillion over the subsequent decade. The deal would additionally improve Musk’s stake in Tesla from 13 p.c to 1 / 4. However Musk would solely get that massive determine—and the additional management—if he hits a collection of formidable metrics, together with 20 million automobiles delivered, 1 million robotaxis in industrial operation, and an $8.5 trillion valuation. And in addition, 1 million Optimus humanoid robots delivered.
On a name with buyers on Wednesday, Musk locked on to that final level to make his most threatening argument for a big 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 monumental robotic military, can I simply be ousted sooner or later sooner or later?” he mentioned. “If we construct this robotic military, do I’ve a minimum of a powerful affect over this robotic military? Not management, however a powerful affect … I do not really feel snug constructing that robotic military except I’ve a powerful affect.”
Usually, Musk talks about Tesla’s Optimus venture as extra of a drive 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 optionally available, like rising your individual 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 “really create a world the place there isn’t a poverty, the place everybody has entry to the best medical care.”
Optimus, he added, “shall be an unbelievable surgeon, and picture if everybody had entry to an unbelievable 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.
