Latest news with #AshokElluswamy
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Meet Ashok Elluswamy, the engineer who made Elon Musk's Tesla more than just a car company
Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's VP of AI, was the first engineer hired for the Autopilot team in 2014. He now leads Tesla's Autopilot and AI software programs, crucial for achieving full self-driving. Musk credits Elluswamy and his team as vital to Tesla's AI advancements, transforming the company into a leader in the global AI race. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads So, who exactly is Ashok Elluswamy? Nine years ago, Elon Musk put out a tweet that would quietly set the stage for Tesla's transformation:'Ramping up the Autopilot software team at Tesla to achieve generalized full autonomy. If interested, contact autopilot@ June 2, 2025, Musk reshared that 2015 tweet, adding a rare note of appreciation:'This tweet 9 years ago was how I started the Autopilot, now AI, team at Tesla. Ashok, who now leads the team, was the first person I interviewed…'He wasn't done. In another post earlier in 2024, Musk emphasized just how vital Ashok Elluswamy has been to Tesla's journey:'Without him and our awesome team, we would just be another car company looking for an autonomy supplier that doesn't exist.'The Man Behind Tesla's AI: Currently Tesla's Vice President of AI, Ashok Elluswamy leads the company's Autopilot and AI software programs—efforts that are central to its push for full self-driving. He was the first engineer hired for the Autopilot team back in 2014, and since 2019, he has been in charge of Tesla's AI division, overseeing everything from neural networks to real-time decision-making in San Francisco, Elluswamy holds a Master's degree in Robotic Systems Development from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor's in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai. Before joining Tesla, he worked at WABCO Vehicle Control Systems and interned at Volkswagen's Electronic Research Lab, where he contributed to early autonomous driving over a decade at Tesla, Elluswamy has become one of its longest-serving—and most quietly influential—figures. From being the first person Musk hired to now leading Tesla's cutting-edge AI efforts, he's played a pivotal role in shifting Tesla from an electric carmaker to a frontrunner in the global AI Musk may be the public face of Tesla, but Ashok Elluswamy is clearly one of the minds helping drive it into the future.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Meet Ashok Elluswamy, the engineer who made Elon Musk's Tesla more than just a car company
Nine years ago, Elon Musk put out a tweet that would quietly set the stage for Tesla's transformation: 'Ramping up the Autopilot software team at Tesla to achieve generalized full autonomy. If interested, contact autopilot@ On June 2, 2025, Musk reshared that 2015 tweet, adding a rare note of appreciation: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Anvisa aprova solução para ajudar a reduzir gordura visceral da barriga em 7 dias! Você Mais Saudável Hoje Saiba Mais Undo 'This tweet 9 years ago was how I started the Autopilot, now AI, team at Tesla. Ashok, who now leads the team, was the first person I interviewed…' He wasn't done. In another post earlier in 2024, Musk emphasized just how vital Ashok Elluswamy has been to Tesla's journey: Live Events 'Without him and our awesome team, we would just be another car company looking for an autonomy supplier that doesn't exist.' So, who exactly is Ashok Elluswamy? The Man Behind Tesla's AI: Currently Tesla's Vice President of AI, Ashok Elluswamy leads the company's Autopilot and AI software programs—efforts that are central to its push for full self-driving. He was the first engineer hired for the Autopilot team back in 2014, and since 2019, he has been in charge of Tesla's AI division, overseeing everything from neural networks to real-time decision-making systems. Based in San Francisco, Elluswamy holds a Master's degree in Robotic Systems Development from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor's in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai. Before joining Tesla, he worked at WABCO Vehicle Control Systems and interned at Volkswagen's Electronic Research Lab, where he contributed to early autonomous driving initiatives. With over a decade at Tesla, Elluswamy has become one of its longest-serving—and most quietly influential—figures. From being the first person Musk hired to now leading Tesla's cutting-edge AI efforts, he's played a pivotal role in shifting Tesla from an electric carmaker to a frontrunner in the global AI race. Elon Musk may be the public face of Tesla, but Ashok Elluswamy is clearly one of the minds helping drive it into the future.
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Tesla's Indian-Origin Vice President Shares Insights On Working With Elon Musk: "Very Funny, Works Hard"
Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's Vice President of AI Software, recently appeared on a podcast hosted by YouTuber Gobinath, where he offered insights into his experience working closely with Elon Musk, the company's CEO. Mr Elluswamy described Musk as a highly driven individual with a sharp sense of humour, emphasising his relentless work ethic and hands-on approach to leadership. During the conversation, Mr Elluswamy also delved into his personal journey, reflecting on his Tamil heritage and the path that led him to a pivotal role at one of the world's most innovative companies. Mr Elluswamy further attributed his success at the company to sharing similar traits with Elon Musk, such as a strong work ethic and technical intuition. Sawyer Merritt, a Tesla investor, shared a snippet of the interview on X. "Tesla's VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy on what it's like to work with Elon Musk: "I meet with him every week. He is really smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early; He works really hard. easily 80-90 hours per week. I feel fortunate to work for him. He is not afraid of taking risks. He is very funny. You can see it in person," the caption of the video read. Watch the video here: Tesla's VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy on what it's like to work with Elon Musk: "I meet with him every week. He is really smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early; He works really hard. Easily 80-90 hours per week. I feel fortunate to work for him. He is… — Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 14, 2025 In the past, Musk has also publicly praised Mr Elluswamy for his pivotal role in developing Tesla's Autopilot technology. "Without him and our awesome team, we would just be another car company looking for an autonomous supplier that doesn't exist," Musk said. Who is Ashok Elluswamy? Ashok Elluswamy is a robotics engineer. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai and a Master's in Robotics System Development from Carnegie Mellon University. He has vast experience in computer vision and perception, as well as planning and control, according to his LinkedIn Currently living in San Francisco, he was the first engineer to be hired for Tesla's Autopilot team. Mr Elluswamy has been with Tesla for 10 years, starting in June 2014. After 2.5 years, he advanced to a senior software engineer position. In May 2019, he was promoted to Director of Tesla Autopilot Software, a role he holds to this day. Before joining Tesla, Mr Elluswamy was associated with Volkswagen Electronic Research Lab and WABCO Vehicle Control System.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Indian-origin Tesla VP reveals what it is like to work with Elon Musk: ‘He works 80-90 hours per week'
Vice President of AI Software at Tesla, Ashok Elluswamy, in a recent podcast with YouTuber Gobinath, revealed what it is like to work with Elon Musk. Elluswamy labelled the billionaire as funny and someone who "works really hard.' In the podcast, the VP further talked about his Tamil roots and how he came to work directly with 'Elon Musk at one of the world's most innovative companies.' Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt shared a snippet of the interview on X and wrote, 'Tesla's VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy on what it's like to work with Elon Musk: 'I meet with him every week. He is really smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early; He works really hard. Easily 80-90 hours per week. I feel fortunate to work for him. He is not afraid of taking risks. He is very funny. You can see it in person'." 'I love to hear this; thanks for sharing,' posted one individual. Another remarked, 'Elon Musk's unmatched vision, relentless drive, fearless risks, and witty charm make him an inspiring example, leading his team with hands-on brilliance.' A third commented, 'Working 80-90 hours a week shows his commitment, though that's an intense schedule!' A fourth wrote, 'Elon Musk certainly has amazing talent and charisma to people around him. I have two personal friends working for Tesla and Xai, each thinking they're working for the best team and Elon Musk cares about them more than anything else.' According to his LinkedIn bio, Elluswamy joined Tesla in 2014 as a software engineer. In the following years, he worked in different roles within the organisation. He was promoted as the Vice President of Tesla AI software in 2024 and has held the position ever since. He has a total of over 11 years of experience of working with the company.
Business Insider
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Insiders reveal how Tesla is preparing for its June robotaxi launch
Tesla is racing toward its planned robotaxi debut in June, with hundreds of test drivers quietly laying the groundwork across Austin. Over the past few months, about 300 Tesla test operators have been driving through the city's streets around the clock using prototypes of the company's self-driving software as a part of the program the company internally calls " Project Rodeo." In the months leading up to the launch, Tesla has held a training event with local first responders, worked to build up "critical miles," formed a team of remote operators, and rolled out a test version of its robotaxi app to Autopilot engineers in Austin and San Francisco. The carmaker has used test drivers to hone its advanced driver-assist software since at least 2016, but Tesla has intensified its efforts over the past year, four current and former workers told Business Insider. During Tesla's layoffs in April 2024, it eliminated several test drivers and moved Project Rodeo from general vehicle testing to the Autopilot department under Ashok Elluswamy, its vice president of AI software, three people with knowledge of the situation told BI. Since then, the intensity of the program has increased substantially, and many workers have shifted from updating Tesla's Full Self-Driving system to robotaxi development, two people said. A looming deadline Internally, Tesla has set a June 1 deadline for the launch, insiders said, and Musk has been told during weekly Autopilot meetings with Elluswamy's team that the company is on track to hit it. Workers said they had not received details about the event or what it would entail. Publicly, it has provided a handful of details. On Tesla's earnings call Tuesday, Musk said Austin residents would be able to pay to ride in a self-driving Model Y. He estimated that the program would launch with 10 to 20 cars. "It feels very forced," a former worker said. "It's this breakthrough moment for Tesla, but there is also this feeling of so many last-minute details being up in the air." One worker described the June 1 deadline as more "aspirational" or "motivational." "A June 1 deadline makes a June 30 launch more likely," they said. Tesla has not publicly announced a precise date for the event beyond "June." The company did not respond to a request for comment. Key hurdles The former employee said hitting a June 1 deadline presents challenges due to the difficulty of logging critical miles — testing done in complex or high-risk driving situations, such as navigating heavy traffic, handling unprotected left turns, or responding to sudden obstacles. These scenarios are crucial for evaluating whether the self-driving system can handle edge cases without human intervention. Test drivers who spoke with BI described the testing process involved in accumulating critical miles. Tesla assigns test drivers to specialized testing routes, including "critical" tracks, where they're encouraged to avoid intervening, and "adversarial" tracks, which simulate emergency scenarios like reentering traffic from a roadside stop. Elluswamy said during the earnings call that it's "super rare" to get critical interventions and that test drivers can go days without an intervention. "You can't easily know whether you are improving or regressing in your capacity" with the autonomous software, he said. Tesla has also been working with local emergency services, documents obtained by BI show. The company met with the city's autonomous vehicle task force, which includes members of the Austin Fire Department, in December. It first reached out in spring 2024, documents show. In March, Tesla performed about six hours of testing with local first responders, including members of the police and fire departments, at a closed testing track, one former worker said. About 60 drivers were split between Tesla test vehicles and personal vehicles in order to mimic normal traffic scenarios, the person said. A spokesperson from the Austin Police Department confirmed that Tesla held a testing day with first responders from Austin, Williamson County, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Representatives for the Austin Fire Department and the autonomous vehicle task force did not respond to a request for comment. Engineers are testing out the robotaxi app Tesla has begun demoing its robotaxi app with employees. The carmaker released an Apple TestFlight version to engineers earlier this year. It was released in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area. It allows Tesla employees to get free rides within a geofenced region, a virtual area that denotes where the vehicle can safely operate, two people said. In Austin, the robotaxi service is set to roll out across such an area, a person with knowledge of the program said. The demo program features a safety driver who sits in the driver's seat and can take over when needed. There has been some discussion around using remote operators as safety drivers for the public rollout, two people familiar with the matter said. The workers operate in a designated facility in California with remote controllers, one person said. The company has moved some test drivers into remote operator roles, two people said. Tesla had remote operators on deck during its robotaxi event in October; the workers are told to take over only in the event of an emergency, much like Waymo's or Zoox's remote operators, they said. While Austin and San Francisco remain high-priority testing areas, Tesla employs test drivers across other cities, including New York, Phoenix, Seattle, and Atlanta. Musk has said the self-driving cars will roll out to other cities over the course of the year. For now, Austin is the key stomping ground for Tesla test drivers. "There's just always a convoy of Teslas just going all over to Austin in circles," Musk said Tuesday. "It's going to look pretty bizarre."
