Latest news with #Elluswamy
Mint
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Tesla Reshuffles Engineers After Abruptly Ending Dojo AI Project
(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. reassigned engineering staff in moves impacting multiple teams after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk disbanded the electric-vehicle maker's in-house chip and supercomputer project. The defunct operation, known as Dojo, has been split into parts, with personnel being distributed across several groups. At least some software-focused personnel now report to Ashok Elluswamy, who leads Tesla's AI efforts across robotaxis and humanoid robots, according to people familiar with the matter. Other engineers working on silicon or semiconductors report to Aaron Rodgers, who oversees hardware for Tesla's autonomous driving efforts and is responsible for its AI5 chip, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing internal changes. Firmware staff are now under Silvio Brugada, who's led security engineering and assumed more responsibility after David Lau departed from his role as head of software engineering. Representatives of Tesla and Musk didn't respond to requests for comment. The moves show how Tesla is regrouping after abruptly ending the Dojo project, which revolved around an in-house artificial-intelligence supercomputer for developing driverless-vehicle technology. After Bloomberg News first reported the decision last week, Musk confirmed it on social media, saying on Aug. 10, 'I had to shut down Dojo and make some tough personnel choices.' While he didn't name any individuals involved, Bloomberg reported that Dojo leader Peter Bannon has left the company. The reshuffling also underscores the growing stature of Elluswamy, who now jointly leads Tesla's programs in AI across autonomous driving and humanoid robotics. A former Autopilot engineer who was named vice president of AI software last year, Elluswamy assumed responsibility for the Optimus robot program following the departure of Milan Kovac in recent months. It wasn't immediately clear how many Dojo engineers have left Tesla in total. Startup DensityAI which has just come out of stealth, has hired around 20 senior and experienced Tesla engineers, Bloomberg has reported. The company was founded by Ganesh Venkataramanan — the former head of Tesla's Dojo team who left in late 2023 — and ex-Tesla employees Bill Chang and Ben Floering. More stories like this are available on
India Today
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Who is Chennai techie Ashok Elluswamy, set to lead Tesla's humanoid project
Indian-origin engineer Ashok Elluswamy, who currently heads Tesla's Autopilot division, has also been put in charge of the company's Optimus humanoid robot project following the departure of Milan Kovac, the head of engineering for the programme, according to a report in Bloomberg. Elluswamy, who was born and educated in Chennai, was the first engineer to join Tesla's AI/Autopilot team in 2014 and eventually rose to lead all AI and Autopilot software has confirmed that Kovac's departure is effective immediately. Stepping in is Elluswamy, who has his roots in Tamil Nadu's Chennai and is a long-time Tesla veteran, with over 11 years of experience at the electric vehicle last week confirmed his departure on X. He described it as "the toughest decision" he had ever made, explaining that he wanted to devote more time to his family."My support for Elon Musk and the team is ironclad – Tesla team forever," he said in a post on X."I've got entire faith in them pushing Optimus to the next level, together with the broader Tesla AI/engineering and production teams. My departure now will not change a thing (sic)," he added in the in the post on June 7, also expressed his appreciation to his successor Elluswamy and fellow employee Srihari Sampathkumar for their unwavering support throughout their years of collaboration."I want to thank my colleagues Ashok Elluswamy and Srihari Sampathkumar, who've been of tremendous support over the many years we've worked together. But also all the outstanding leaders, engineers, recruiters, technicians, operators, HR partners and everyone I've been blessed to share a part of my life with," Kovac, who has been leading the Optimus initiative since 2022 and was elevated to the role of vice president in September 2024, a social media post on June 2, billionaire Elon Musk commended both Kovac and Elluswamy, referring to them as essential figures in Tesla's AI IS CHENNAI-BORN ASHOK ELLUSWAMY, SET TO LEAD TESLA ROBOT PROJECTAshok Elluswamy, who was born in Chennai, and earned his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication from the city's College of Engineering, now lives in San Francisco. He has also been the director of Tesla Autopilot Software since 2019. He holds a Master's degree in Robotic Systems Development from Carnegie Mellon joining Tesla, he held a position as a software engineer at WABCO Vehicle Control also took on a research internship at the Volkswagen Electronic Research Lab, contributing to a project of the German giant's autonomous driving team at Tesla looks after a wide array of domains, like perception, neural networks, fleet-learning, and motion planning, according to a report in the Dubai-based Gulf Elluswamy opened up in an interview about his experience working closely with Elon Elluswamy's takeover, Tesla is reportedly expecting a better integration between its Autopilot AI and Optimus systems."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," Elluswamy said in a podcast with YouTuber Gobinath last joined Tesla in 2014 as a software engineer and has been with the company for over a was promoted to vice president of AI Software last year and continues to work closely with Musk, contributing to Tesla's growth in artificial Optimus project, launched in 2021, aims to develop humanoids, human-like robots, with plans to produce several thousand units in 2025 for internal factory use. Tesla, according to reports, aims for broader commercial availability of Optimus humanoid by 2026.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Driven, humorous, relentless and can predict future really early: Tesla's Indian-origin VP Ashok Elluswamy on working with Elon Musk
In a recent podcast conversation with YouTuber Gobinath, Ashok Elluswamy , Tesla 's Vice President of AI Software, opened up about his professional journey and offered rare personal insights into what it's like working closely with Tesla CEO Elon Musk . From describing Musk's exceptional drive and sharp sense of humour to reflecting on his own roots and work ethic, Elluswamy painted a vivid picture of life inside one of the world's most innovative companies. Ashok Elluswamy, a robotics engineer originally from Tamil Nadu, has been a part of Tesla's remarkable growth for nearly a decade. Currently residing in San Francisco, he was the first engineer hired for the company's groundbreaking Autopilot team. His trajectory within Tesla, from an initial role in 2014 to his current position as Director of Autopilot Software, mirrors the company's relentless push toward technological excellence and innovation. During the podcast, Elluswamy described Musk as a highly driven leader with a strong sense of humour and an unmatched work ethic. 'He works really hard, easily 80–90 hours a week,' said Elluswamy, who meets with Musk every week. 'He's very smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early. I feel fortunate to work for him.' These qualities, Elluswamy shared, are what make Musk both inspiring and challenging to work with. He noted that Musk's leadership is not just strategic but hands-on. He gets involved in the nitty-gritty of product development and technical discussions. This approach has deeply influenced Elluswamy, who credits much of his own success at Tesla to sharing similar traits with Musk, including a strong work ethic and technical intuition. In a clip of the interview shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, Elluswamy added, 'He is not afraid of taking risks. He is very funny. You can see it in person.' This blend of seriousness, risk-taking, and humour, according to Elluswamy, creates a unique culture within Tesla that pushes boundaries while keeping innovation enjoyable. Musk, for his part, has not shied away from acknowledging Elluswamy's contributions. In the past, he has publicly praised him for his pivotal role in the development of 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 stated. Elluswamy's academic background adds further depth to his story. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai, and a master's degree in Robotics System Development from Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining Tesla, he worked with leading automotive research teams at Volkswagen and WABCO. Today, Elluswamy stands as a role model for aspiring engineers, particularly from India. His journey from Chennai to Silicon Valley , marked by curiosity, perseverance and excellence, echoes the larger story of Indian talent shaping global technology. His reflections offer not just a glimpse into Tesla's inner workings but also an inspiring example of what dedication and shared vision can achieve in the world of tech.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
"Driven, Humorous, and Relentless": Tesla's Indian-origin VP Ashok Elluswamy on working with Elon Musk
In a recent podcast conversation with YouTuber Gobinath, Ashok Elluswamy , Tesla 's Vice President of AI Software, opened up about his professional journey and offered rare personal insights into what it's like working closely with Tesla CEO Elon Musk . From describing Musk 's exceptional drive and sharp sense of humour to reflecting on his own roots and work ethic, Elluswamy painted a vivid picture of life inside one of the world's most innovative companies. Ashok Elluswamy, a robotics engineer originally from Tamil Nadu, has been a part of Tesla's remarkable growth for nearly a decade. Currently residing in San Francisco, he was the first engineer hired for the company's groundbreaking Autopilot team. His trajectory within Tesla, from an initial role in 2014 to his current position as Director of Autopilot Software, mirrors the company's relentless push toward technological excellence and innovation. During the podcast, Elluswamy described Musk as a highly driven leader with a strong sense of humour and an unmatched work ethic. 'He works really hard, easily 80–90 hours a week,' said Elluswamy, who meets with Musk every week. 'He's very smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early. I feel fortunate to work for him.' These qualities, Elluswamy shared, are what make Musk both inspiring and challenging to work with. He noted that Musk's leadership is not just strategic but hands-on. He gets involved in the nitty-gritty of product development and technical discussions. This approach has deeply influenced Elluswamy, who credits much of his own success at Tesla to sharing similar traits with Musk, including a strong work ethic and technical intuition. In a clip of the interview shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, Elluswamy added, 'He is not afraid of taking risks. He is very funny. You can see it in person.' This blend of seriousness, risk-taking, and humour, according to Elluswamy, creates a unique culture within Tesla that pushes boundaries while keeping innovation enjoyable. Musk, for his part, has not shied away from acknowledging Elluswamy's contributions. In the past, he has publicly praised him for his pivotal role in the development of 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 stated. Elluswamy's academic background adds further depth to his story. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai, and a master's degree in Robotics System Development from Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining Tesla, he worked with leading automotive research teams at Volkswagen and WABCO. Today, Elluswamy stands as a role model for aspiring engineers, particularly from India. His journey from Chennai to Silicon Valley, marked by curiosity, perseverance and excellence, echoes the larger story of Indian talent shaping global technology. His reflections offer not just a glimpse into Tesla's inner workings but also an inspiring example of what dedication and shared vision can achieve in the world of tech.
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.
