Latest news with #D1
The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Tesla disbands dojo supercomputer team, unwinding key AI effort
Tesla Inc. is disbanding its Dojo team and its leader will leave the company, according to people familiar with the matter, upending the automaker's effort to build an in-house supercomputer for developing driverless-vehicle technology. Peter Bannon, who was heading up Dojo, is leaving and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has ordered the effort to be shut down, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. The team has lost about 20 workers recently to newly formed DensityAI, and remaining Dojo workers are being reassigned to other data center and compute projects within Tesla, the people said. Tesla plans to increase its reliance on external technology partners, including Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. for compute and Samsung Electronics Co. for chip manufacturing, the people said. Musk's order marks a major shift for a program years in the making, with Dojo once positioned as central to Tesla's multibillion-dollar effort to pull ahead in the artificial intelligence race. Tesla and Bannon didn't respond to requests for comment. After Bloomberg News first reported the developments, Musk confirmed Tesla's change in approach, writing on X that the next-generation AI chips going into the company's vehicles "will be excellent for inference and at least pretty good for training. All effort is focused on that.' Tesla's shares rebounded after a slight decline overnight, rising 2.1% at 9:52am in New York on Friday. The stock had fallen 20% this year through Thursday's close. Dojo is a Tesla-designed supercomputer used to train the machine-learning models behind the electric-vehicle maker's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, as well as its Optimus humanoid robot. It's based on a custom in-house chip known as D1 and was meant to be used in training AI models. The computer takes in video data captured by vehicles and rapidly processes it to improve the company's algorithms. Analysts have said Dojo could be a key competitive advantage, with Morgan Stanley estimating in 2023 that it could eventually add $500 billion to Tesla's market value. DensityAI, which is poised to come out of stealth soon, is working on chips, hardware and software that will power data centers for AI that are used in robotics, by AI agents and for automotive applications, among other sectors, Bloomberg reported this week. The company was founded by Ganesh Venkataramanan, the former head of Dojo, and ex-Tesla employees Bill Chang and Ben Floering. Talent drain Tesla has seen an exodus of key talent this year as it grapples with rising competition, falling sales and a consumer backlash to Musk's political activity. Milan Kovac, the head of engineering for Optimus, and David Lau, vice president of software engineering, left earlier this year. Bloomberg also reported in June that longtime Musk confidant Omead Afshar had parted ways with the company. The EV maker reached a US$16.5bil (RM69.8bil) deal last month with Samsung to secure AI semiconductors through 2033. The plan is for an upcoming plant in Texas to produce Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip, diversifying Tesla's sourcing beyond leading chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Musk hinted at a strategic pivot during Tesla's most recent quarterly earnings call, suggesting future iterations of the company's in-house technology could converge with that of its partners. "Thinking about Dojo 3 and the AI6 inference chip, it seems like intuitively, we want to try to find convergence there, where it's basically the same chip,' Musk said on the July 23 call. Tesla's CEO also let on early last year that the company might not pursue Dojo in perpetuity, and that it may instead lean more on external partners. "We're pursuing the dual path of Nvidia and Dojo,' Musk said in January 2024. "I would think of Dojo as a long shot. It's a long shot worth taking because the payoff is potentially very high. But it's not something that is a high probability. It's not like a sure thing at all.' – Bloomberg
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla shuts down its AI training supercomputer Dojo, loses 20 key execs to company founded by Ganesh Venkataramanan
Tesla is reportedly dissolving its Dojo supercomputer team, abandoning its in-house chip development for autonomous driving technology. According to a report by Bloomberg, - Tesla Inc. is disbanding its Dojo team and its leader will leave the company, according to people familiar with the matter, upending the automaker's effort to build an in-house supercomputer for developing driverless-vehicle technology. The Dojo shutdown coincides with Tesla's board offering Elon Musk a $29 billion compensation package to prioritize Tesla's AI goals over his other ventures, including xAI, a pure-play AI company. Meet DensityAI, AI startup founded by former Dojo head Ganesh Venkataramanan The move marks a significant pivot for the automaker, which has increasingly leaned on external partners like Nvidia, AMD, and Samsung for its AI and compute needs. Peter Bannon, the lead of the Dojo project, is leaving Tesla, and the remaining team members will reportedly be reassigned to other data center and compute initiatives within the company, the report said citing anonymous sources. The decision follows the exit of approximately 20 Dojo team members who left to form DensityAI, a new AI startup founded by former Dojo head Ganesh Venkataramanan , alongside ex-Tesla employees Bill Chang and Ben Floering. DensityAI is preparing to exit stealth mode and is focused on developing chips, hardware, and software to power AI-driven data centers for robotics, AI agents, and automotive applications. The startup aims to address high-performance computing needs with an emphasis on scalable, energy-efficient solutions for next-generation AI workloads. As Tesla recalibrates, DensityAI's emergence could reshape the AI hardware landscape, leveraging the expertise of former Dojo engineers to challenge established players in the AI data center space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 75% off installation and replacement for LeafFilter LeafFilter Gutter Protection Get Rates Undo What makes shutting down of Dojo important The disbanding of Dojo comes at a pivotal moment for Tesla. CEO Elon Musk has been repositioning Tesla as an AI and robotics company, despite challenges with its limited robotaxi launch in Austin in June 2025. The launch, which involved Model Y vehicles with a human co-pilot, faced criticism after reports of erratic driving behavior. Dojo, first announced in 2019, was pitched as the backbone of Tesla's AI ambitions, particularly for achieving full self-driving (FSD) by processing vast amounts of video data. Musk highlighted Dojo as recently as Tesla's Q2 2025 earnings call, though his focus shifted to Cortex, a new AI training supercluster at Tesla's Austin headquarters. Dojo combined a supercomputer with Tesla's in-house D1 chip, unveiled at AI Day 2021. Presented by Venkataramanan, the D1 was designed to work alongside Nvidia GPUs to power Dojo, with a next-gen D2 chip planned to address data flow bottlenecks. In 2023, Morgan Stanley estimated Dojo could add $500 billion to Tesla's market value by enabling robotaxi services and software revenue. However, by August 2024, Musk's rhetoric pivoted to Cortex, signaling a strategic shift. Tesla is looking externally Tesla's reliance on external partners is growing. A $16.5 billion deal with Samsung, signed last month, will produce Tesla's AI6 inference chips, designed to scale from FSD and Optimus humanoid robots to high-performance AI training. Tesla is also deepening ties with Nvidia for compute power and AMD for additional chip solutions. During the Q2 earnings call, Musk hinted at streamlining efforts, suggesting convergence between Dojo 3 and the AI6 chip to avoid redundancies. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Samsung-Tesla partnership likely to deepen as Dojo project ends
Samsung Electronics' $16.5 billion contract to manufacture Tesla's next-generation AI6 processors has taken on greater significance after the US electric vehicle-maker dismantled its Dojo supercomputing team, a move that signals a deeper reliance on external chip partners. Additionally, Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong is currently staying in the US, fueling speculation that he could meet with top Tesla executives to discuss expanding cooperation. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Friday that the company will focus on developing its AI5 and AI6 chips, custom processors designed to power Tesla's self-driving technology and AI workloads, rather than 'divide its resources' to pursue different AI chip designs. His comments back a recent Bloomberg report that Tesla is winding down the Dojo supercomputer project, which centered on in-house D1 chips. 'It doesn't make sense for Tesla to divide its sources and scale two quite different AI chip designs,' Musk said in a post on X. 'The Tesla AI5, AI6 and subsequent chips will be excellent for inference and at least pretty good for training. All effort is focused on that.' Bloomberg reported that Musk ordered the Dojo team to shut down, and the engineers in the group have been reassigned to other initiatives, including data centers. The news outlet also said Tesla was planning to increase its reliance on external technology partners, including Nvidia and AMD for computer and Samsung Electronics for chip manufacturing, citing sources familiar with the matter. Tesla first launched Dojo and unveiled the D1 chip in August 2021. The multi-billion-dollar project was aimed at building a custom supercomputer for training machine-learning models behind its Autopilot, Full Self-Driving systems and Optimus humanoid robot. Against this backdrop, Samsung's role as a supplier to Tesla's key AI chips is expected to grow. Last month, Samsung announced a record $16.5 billion deal to produce Tesla's next-generation AI6 chips for Full Self-Driving technology at its plant in Taylor, Texas, through 2033. Musk described the disclosed amount as "just the bare minimum," suggesting the actual value of the deal could be even higher. He added that he had held a video call with Samsung's Lee "to go over what a real partnership would be like." Meanwhile, Lee has remained in the US since traveling to Washington on July 29, continuing meetings with major business leaders. Speculations are growing that he may also meet with Tesla's top executives during his stay. 'While Tesla will be designing its own AI chips, Samsung is likely to expand its role as foundries do more than just manufacturing, working closely with customers' design teams to jointly develop products,' an industry official said. 'In the past, foundries only shared processes and manufacturing, but they are now evolving to also share design. Samsung has long-standing capabilities in design, so there are many areas where it could collaborate with Tesla.' Musk also hinted at a strategic pivot during Tesla's most recent quarterly earnings call on July 23, suggesting future iterations of the company's in-house technology could converge with that of its partners. 'Thinking about Dojo 3 and the AI6 inference chip, it seems like intuitively, we want to try to find convergence there, where it's basically the same chip,' Musk said during the earnings call.
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Health
- Fast Company
Wh being 'too committed' could just help your career
BY Listen to this Article More info 0:00 / 5:46 When we hear the word obsession, it tends to carry a negative charge. We think of burnout, imbalance, delusion, maybe even someone a little unhinged. But in reality, obsession, when channeled with clarity and purpose, is often the hidden engine behind real breakthroughs, both personally and professionally. It's what drives people to rise above mediocrity, unlock their full capacity, and perform at levels most never reach. I learned this concept the hard way—not through theory, books, or podcasts, but through a football season that forced me to redefine what commitment really looked like. After finally achieving my dream of being drafted to a D1 football team, I suffered a serious injury in the first game I played. What resulted was an end to my football career, a personal spiral, and an addiction to opioids. When I finally hit rock bottom, I realized that if I was going to change the trajectory of my life, I would need to do so with radical commitment. So I did. But what I discovered applies far beyond football, or overcoming addiction. It applies to anyone chasing a goal that demands them to be great—maybe even obsessive. If you're looking to break through to the next level in your career, business, or creative pursuit, here's what healthy obsession—when wielded with intention—can do for you. Use Obsession as a Strategic Tool, Not a Distraction Not all effort is created equal. Grinding just for the sake of grinding is usually a fast track to frustration. The people who achieve extraordinary results aren't just working harder, they're working in alignment with a vision that lights them up from the inside out. They're crystal clear on their purpose, their vision, and the why behind their mission. When your purpose is clear, it gives obsession its direction. It serves as a compass. It makes the 4 a.m. alarm clock make sense even when it looks crazy to everyone else. Without vision, obsession is just burnout in disguise. So instead of obsessing over vague ideas like success or simply being the best, get clear on what you're actually building, why you're building it, and most importantly, why it matters to you. The clarity that comes from this creates endurance. This is so much more than a mindset shift. It's backed by science. A study from the University of Colorado Denver found that people with a strong sense of purpose were far more likely to stick with positive habits over time, like consistent exercise. Another study from the NIH showed that when goals are clearly defined, and individuals are given the autonomy to decide how to reach them, performance doesn't just improve; it accelerates. Purpose and clarity aren't just nice to have. They're what gives obsession its edge. Most people imagine greatness as this massive, unbridgeable gap, like there's some elite group born with better tools. And in the case of someone like Kobe Bryant, that's probably true. But for most of us, the gap is smaller than it looks. It's not talent, and it's definitely not luck. It's repetition. It's commitment. It's committing to one more rep when everyone else has decided to pack it up. It's being willing to swim out to the deep end and being prepared to tread water for as long as it takes. Where can you stretch just 5% further than what's required? What areas can you give just a little bit more each day? That's often where the breakthrough lives. Build Confidence Through Repetition, Not Reflection Confidence doesn't come from talking about it, journaling about it, or waiting to feel ready. It comes from leaning deep into the work, making effort itself become your evidence. Unfortunately, that's the part most people miss. They wait until they feel confident to move, but confidence isn't the entry fee; it's the byproduct. Over time, I've learned that activity creates insight, and insight sharpens your instincts. That insight or 'experience' becomes your internal résumé. It evolves into a quiet, unshakable voice that tells you, 'I've done the work. I've worked my butt off. I've earned the right to trust myself.' Confidence built this way doesn't need validation. It's the kind of grounded self-belief that comes from being obsessed with your craft. So if you're lacking confidence right now, don't overthink it. Get so deep in the work that self-belief has no choice but to catch up. Choose Your Sacrifice: Comfort or Greatness You'll either pay with discipline, discomfort, and focused intensity, or you'll pay with regret, missed moments, and a lifetime of quietly wondering what could have been if you had just gone all-in. Choosing comfort comes at the cost of momentum, and giving in to fear quietly steals opportunity. Unlocking your full potential, on the other hand, demands payment up front. It consumes your time, your energy, and your focus long before the rewards ever show up. But it gives back something comfort never will: real growth, meaningful progress, and a sense of pride you can't manufacture. Obsession gets a bad rap. But it's not obsession that's dangerous. It's a directionless obsession that becomes destructive. When you pair consistent, meaningful effort with vision, it does more than sharpen your focus or stretch your limits. You work with conviction. You become the kind of person who doesn't shrink under pressure but meets it with purpose, again and again. That's the beauty of being too committed. It transforms. It builds. It fuels. Get obsessed with purpose, with showing up, and with believing in a vision so powerful and so personal that it demands you rise to the level of extraordinary. The early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is Friday, September 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Ferguson is the author of Nobody's Legend: Let Go of Who You Were, Rewrite Your Story, and Take Back Your Life, a former Division I football player, tech sales leader, and speaker on mindset, leadership, and career readiness. For more information, visit More
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Has Paige Bueckers confirmed dating Azzi Fudd? All you need to know about their rumored relationship
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel As she prepared for her thrilling debut in the WNBA All-Star Game Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers appeared to confirm long-standing rumors about her relationship with fellow former Husky Azzi Fudd Fans have speculated for months that the bond between the two basketball stars went beyond friendship. Clever social media clues, affectionate photos, and a phone case reading 'Paige Bueckers' girlfriend' sparked headlines in June 2025. Bueckers, once a standout at UConn, recently reacted warmly to Fudd's ESPYs look on social media, further fueling the WNBA All-Star Orange Carpet, a fan asked Bueckers, "How well do you know your D1 girlfriend?" - a moment she didn't shy away from. Though she didn't directly call Fudd her partner, Bueckers didn't deny it either, leading many to see it as a quiet confirmation of their Azzi Fudd is far more than just Bueckers' rumored girlfriend. Born November 11, 2002, in Arlington, Virginia, Fudd was named the 2019 Gatorade National Player of the Year. Despite a serious knee injury in high school, she bounced back to shine at UConn, averaging 13.6 points per game with a stellar 43.6% shooting 22, the 5'11" shooting guard helped lead UConn to the NCAA championship in April 2025, earning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honors. Fudd will return to UConn for one more season, aiming for a second straight title before entering the 2026 WNBA Draft Together, Bueckers and Fudd represent both elite talent and a new era of authenticity in women's sports.
