Elon Musk has shaken up the tech world again, announcing significant progress in the development of Tesla's own AI chips. The company's CEO, known for his ambitious schedules, said that Tesla engineers are at the final stage and are expected to complete the digital design of the next-generation chip, called AI5, in just a few months.
The statement provides further clarity to his previous comments. Earlier this month, Musk focused attention on the production schedule, specifying that the first physical samples of the AI5 will appear next year. However, mass production by giants such as Samsung and TSMC is not scheduled to begin until 2027. Apparently, while hardware production is lagging, engineering development of the architecture is moving at a breakneck pace.
Musk used his social media channels to highlight something that often remains in the shadow of electric vehicles: Tesla has a team of top-notch engineers who have been developing cutting-edge chips specifically designed to accelerate artificial intelligence for years. Thanks to their efforts, millions of AI chips from earlier generations that have already been produced are being used effectively in both the company’s electric vehicles and its growing data centers. According to Musk, it is this proprietary know-how that allows Tesla to maintain its leadership position in real-world applications of artificial intelligence.
While the company’s electric vehicles currently rely on AI4-generation processors, the digital development of AI5 will be completed soon, and work on the next stage – AI6 – is already in full swing. Musk did not fail to remind that the company is actively recruiting talents who are willing to join this revolutionary development.
The CEO's ambition is not limited to a rapid development cycle. He is determined to move to annual production of a new generation of AI chips. The ultimate goal is for Tesla to become the largest supplier of AI components in the world, ahead of all other manufacturers combined. To emphasize the seriousness of his intentions, Musk assured the audience: “I'm not kidding.“
For Musk, the distribution of these chips is a noble mission that will benefit all of humanity. He believes that they will save millions of lives by preventing accidents, thanks to on-board AI systems in electric vehicles. In addition, they are expected to contribute to the provision of high-quality medical care through the specialized use of humanoid robots Optimus.
As a curious detail, Musk also shared some of the internal dynamics of the team. He personally communicates with specialists from the chip team twice a week - on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Once the completion of AI5 is a fact, the Saturday meetings will be canceled, which is obviously a long-awaited reward for the hard work of the engineers. Now, candidates for work in this field must necessarily possess direct AI skills necessary for the development of these extremely complex components.