Ashok Elluswamy Appointed Head of Tesla’s Optimus Challenge
Ashok Elluswamy, an engineer of Indian origin, has been appointed to guide Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robotic challenge, along with his function as head of the corporate’s Autopilot division. This transition follows the departure of Milan Kovac, the earlier head of engineering for Optimus. Born and educated in Chennai, Elluswamy was Tesla’s first rent for its AI/Autopilot group in 2014 and has been instrumental within the firm’s developments in synthetic intelligence.
Elon Musk, in a current tweet, mirrored on the origins of Tesla’s AI group and highlighted Elluswamy as a pivotal determine, stating, "Ashok, who now leads the group, was the primary individual I interviewed."
Tesla confirmed Kovac’s instant exit, with Kovac himself asserting that stepping away from the corporate was "the hardest determination" he’s needed to make, primarily to spend extra time along with his household. With over ten years of expertise at Tesla, Elluswamy now juggles management duties for each Autopilot and Optimus.
In his farewell message, Kovac expressed unwavering assist for Tesla and its management, asserting that his departure wouldn’t hinder the progress of the Optimus initiative. He thanked his colleagues, significantly Elluswamy and Srihari Sampathkumar, for his or her collaboration through the years.
Elluswamy, now primarily based in San Francisco, holds the place of Vice President of AI Software program at Tesla. He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Guindy, and earned a Grasp’s in Robotic Programs Growth from Carnegie Mellon College. His profession trajectory at Tesla has seen him evolve from a software program engineer to main essential initiatives like Autopilot and Optimus.
Earlier than becoming a member of Tesla, he labored at WABCO and interned at Volkswagen’s autonomous driving division. Elluswamy’s group focuses on key AI features similar to notion, neural networks, and movement planning. He has recommended Musk’s dedication and intensive work ethic, noting their common conferences and Musk’s dedication to the corporate. Tesla anticipates that Elluswamy’s management will improve the synergy between Autopilot AI and the Optimus challenge, which goals to deploy 1000’s of humanoid robots in its factories by 2025.
