In a recent X post, Elon Musk expressed gratitude towards Ashok Elluswamy, the first member of Tesla's AI/Autopilot team who eventually became the leader of all AI/Autopilot software. 

Musk acknowledged Elluswamy's pivotal role and the contributions of the entire team in advancing Tesla's autonomy capabilities. He emphasized that without their efforts, Tesla would have remained just another car company, struggling to find a non-existent autonomy supplier. Musk also clarified that Elluswamy's earlier praise for him was unsolicited and that he had only discovered it shortly before his tweet.

Ashok Elluswamy, a leader in Tesla's AI and Autopilot team, examined Elon Musk's pivotal role in driving Tesla's AI and autonomy advancements in depth. 

Ashok Elluswamy praised Elon Musk for his critical role in Tesla's AI and Autopilot advancements. Musk's vision and perseverance led to groundbreaking developments, including the first Autopilot system on minimal hardware, in-house computer vision, custom AI hardware, and vision-based autonomy. Musk's often deemed risky decisions proved successful, positioning Tesla as a leader in AI and autonomy. Elluswamy emphasized that with Musk, Tesla would have achieved its current status.

Elluswamy highlighted Musk's vision, technical insight, and perseverance, recounting several key milestones in Tesla's journey:

• Early Autopilot Development (2014-2015): Musk challenged the team to develop Autopilot on a minimal computer system, pushing for features like lane keeping and vehicle control. Despite initial scepticism, Tesla launched the first Autopilot system in 2015, well ahead of its competitors.
• In-House Computer Vision (2016): Tesla transitioned to developing its computer vision systems for Autopilot, a move seen as risky but ultimately successful. This decision was crucial in building a strong AI team and achieving the target within eleven months, unlike other companies, which took years.
• Custom AI Hardware (2017-2019): Musk advocated developing custom silicon to run neural networks efficiently. The AI computer, introduced in 2019, remains highly competitive, with significantly higher AI inference compute than contemporary chips like the Apple M3.
• Vision-Based Autonomy (2020): Musk's belief in using vision and AI for autonomy instead of relying on sensors and high-definition maps led to the development of Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities. Despite skepticism, Tesla achieved supervised FSD, showcasing the ability to navigate complex urban environments using vision alone.
• Humanoid Robots (2021): Musk initiated the development of humanoid robots at Tesla before the widespread emergence of advanced AI models like ChatGPT. Like vehicle autonomy, this project aims to be scalable and cost-effective.

Elluswamy emphasized Musk's unique technical understanding, perseverance, and forward-thinking combination. Musk's ambitious vision has been crucial for Tesla's leadership in AI and autonomy, positioning the company to revolutionize transportation and robotics. Without Musk's influence, Elluswamy believes Tesla would have remained just another car company.

Source: Elon Musk, Ashok Elluswamy

Image source: COPILOT