Tesla CEO Elon Musk is making a strong case for retaining significant control over Tesla’s ambitious humanoid robotics program, emphasizing the critical need to oversee what he terms a potential “robot army.” Musk expressed unease about the prospect of building a vast AI-driven robotics operation without maintaining sufficient voting power to influence its future direction, underscoring concerns about being ousted from leadership amid rapid growth[3][1].
At Tesla’s recent AI Day event, Musk unveiled the latest pro...
At Tesla’s recent AI Day event, Musk unveiled the latest prototype of the humanoid robot known as Optimus, showcasing its ability to perform simple tasks such as watering plants, carrying boxes, and lifting objects at Tesla’s California production facility. He highlighted that Optimus, which leverages the same artificial intelligence technology used in Tesla’s autonomous vehicles, is designed to be “friendly” and capable of navigating a human-centric environment[4][2]. Musk envisions producing Optimus in the millions, targeting a retail price of under $20,000—less than a third of the cost of a Tesla Model Y vehicle—making it affordable for widespread commercial and domestic use[4].
Musk’s concerns about control are linked to Tesla’s broader...
Musk’s concerns about control are linked to Tesla’s broader vision for Optimus, which he believes could revolutionize labor by performing complex and dangerous tasks currently done by humans. He stated, “I don’t feel comfortable wielding that [robot army]” without around 25% voting control in Tesla, which he argues would be enough to be influential but not overly dominant[3][1]. This highlights his awareness of the profound economic and social impact that mass-produced humanoid robots could have, potentially transforming industries and labor markets on a global scale[6].
Tesla plans to start building the third generation of the Op...
Tesla plans to start building the third generation of the Optimus robot by early 2026, continuing to refine its capabilities and autonomy. Musk envisions the robot evolving from simple functions to an “extremely capable” assistant that can solve problems independently, addressing what he perceives as a missing “brain” in current humanoid robotics[5][4]. The strategic importance Musk places on this robotics program is reflected in his proposed $1 trillion compensation package, which includes provisions aimed at securing his control over Tesla’s AI and robotics future[3].
Industry observers note the ambitious scale of Tesla’s robot...
Industry observers note the ambitious scale of Tesla’s robotics effort, comparing it with existing leaders in humanoid robotics such as Boston Dynamics. Musk’s background in engineering and production gives him confidence that Tesla can achieve mechanized coordination and AI integration at a pace and scale that could reshape the robotics industry[2]. However, significant technical challenges remain before Optimus can replace human workers in complex environments.
In summary, Elon Musk is firmly advocating for substantial c...
In summary, Elon Musk is firmly advocating for substantial control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics to safeguard the company’s transformative vision. With Optimus poised to become a mass-produced humanoid robot integrating advanced AI, Musk’s leadership stake is seen as critical to navigating the ethical, economic, and technical challenges this “robot army” presents as Tesla aims to redefine labor and automation worldwide.
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 4:20:14 PM
Following Elon Musk’s recent remarks emphasizing his need for strong influence over Tesla’s burgeoning humanoid robotics project, the market reacted with cautious optimism. After Musk’s statement on the Q3 2025 earnings call about not feeling comfortable building a “robot army” without sufficient voting control, Tesla’s stock saw renewed investor interest amid anticipation for the company’s AI and robotics future[1][7]. Musk’s ongoing push for a $1 trillion compensation package tied to ambitious targets—including scaling the Optimus robot and autonomous technologies—has polarized shareholders ahead of the November 6 vote, though the underlying stock price had earlier rallied notably after Musk’s $1 billion personal share purchase signaling confidence in Tesla’s strategic pivot to AI and robotics[2][7].
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 4:30:15 PM
Elon Musk is aggressively asserting control over Tesla's humanoid robotics initiative, Optimus, amid shifting industry dynamics where he predicts that these robots will constitute about 80% of Tesla’s future value, overtaking its electric vehicle business[2][4]. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining around 25% voting control to influence the company's direction in robotics, fearing being ousted while building this "robot army"[3]. The push comes as Tesla faces a 13% decline in vehicle deliveries and challenges like production delays and the departure of a key robotics lead, all while competitors like Nvidia invest heavily in physical AI development[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 4:40:14 PM
Elon Musk is aggressively pushing for control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics division, emphasizing that about **80% of Tesla’s future value** will come from the Optimus robot project, marking a significant pivot from electric vehicles to autonomous humanoid robots[2][4]. Musk has warned of production challenges and competitive pressures, demanding around **25% voting control** to safeguard his influence amid a shifting competitive landscape where rivals like Nvidia are also advancing “physical AI” robotics with developer kits priced at $3,499[2][3]. Despite a 13% drop in Tesla vehicle deliveries this year, Musk’s vision envisions thousands of Optimus robots produced by 2025 with a potential long-term revenue exceeding **$10 trillion**, underscoring
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 4:50:13 PM
Elon Musk is asserting control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics division as the company pivots from electric vehicles to robotics, projecting that about 80% of Tesla’s future value will derive from its Optimus robots designed for hazardous factory tasks[2][4]. This shift comes amid a 13% drop in Tesla’s vehicle deliveries in early 2025, prompting Musk to emphasize the importance of dominating the robotics space despite production challenges and key team departures[2][4]. Analysts view Musk’s move as a strategic response to intensifying competition in AI-driven robotics, underscored by rivals like Nvidia launching developer kits to advance physical AI integration[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 5:00:15 PM
Elon Musk emphasized the critical need for strong control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics program, Optimus, citing its complexity and early production challenges, with third-generation production targeted for Q1 2026[1][4]. He envisions Optimus scaling to potentially 10 billion units, surpassing the human population, driven by generalized AI that can transfer across applications, which he claims could eliminate poverty and revolutionize healthcare by enabling robots as surgeons[2]. Tesla plans substantial capital expenditure increases in 2026 to support these AI-driven ambitions, reflecting both technological risk and the strategic importance Musk places on maintaining governance control to execute this multiyear vision[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 5:10:16 PM
## Breaking News Update
Elon Musk made an explicit case for greater voting control over Tesla during this week’s Q3 2025 earnings call, stating, “If I go ahead and build this enormous robot army, can I just be ousted at some point in the future? I don’t feel comfortable building that robot army unless I have a strong influence”[3].
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has yet to issue a formal response, but financial regulators are reportedly reviewing whether Musk’s $1 trillion compensation plan—which could increase his stake from 13% to 25%—complies with existing governance and conflict-of-interest rules, especially given his simultaneous leadership of xAI, a private AI company[1
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 5:20:17 PM
**LIVE UPDATE (October 26, 2025):** Elon Musk’s insistence on retaining “strong influence” over Tesla’s humanoid robotics division is drawing sharply divided reactions, with some tech enthusiasts praising his vision for a robot-powered “age of abundance”—citing plans to deploy up to 10 billion Optimus robots globally, exceeding the human population[6]—while skeptics question both the feasibility and the ethics of concentrating such power, with $1 trillion in proposed compensation tied to Musk’s future stake and control[5]. “I just don’t feel comfortable building a robot army here and then being ousted,” Musk told investors on Wednesday, specifically referencing proxy advisers as “corporate terrorists” and demanding at least
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 5:30:17 PM
Elon Musk today doubled down on his push for personal oversight of Tesla’s humanoid robotics division, telling investors in a company-wide call that Tesla may begin production of the third-generation Optimus robot in Q1 2026, but warned “bringing Optimus to market is an incredibly difficult task, to be clear—it's not like some walk in the park,” while pledging the technology could eventually help “create a world where there is no poverty”[1]. Internationally, skepticism is growing among robotics experts and policymakers: While Tesla’s prototype performed basic tasks like watering plants and lifting objects at a Palo Alto AI Day event in late October, robotics professor Henri Ben Amor noted the demonstration and Musk’s $20,000 price target
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 5:40:23 PM
Elon Musk, during Tesla’s October 2025 earnings call, explicitly tied his demand for increased voting control over the company to concerns about who would oversee Tesla’s future “robot army,” arguing, “My fundamental concern with regard to how much voting control I have at Tesla is, if I go ahead and build this enormous robot army, can I just be ousted at some point in the future? … I don’t feel comfortable building that robot army unless I have a strong influence”[6]. While Musk projects that Tesla could someday deploy “millions” of Optimus humanoid robots—with a potential global demand he speculates could reach up to 10 billion units—industry analysts remain skeptical, pointing to Tesla’s history
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 5:50:18 PM
Elon Musk has emphasized the necessity of maintaining strong influence over Tesla’s forthcoming "robot army," reflecting concerns about governance should the humanoid robot business scale massively. Industry experts remain skeptical, with some comparing the optimism around Tesla Bots to past overhyped products, noting that Musk himself warned about discomfort in "wielding that" much robotic power, underlining the unprecedented scale—potentially billions of units—as Musk envisions humanoid robots outnumbering humans[2][3][6]. Analysts highlight Tesla's ambitious goal with Optimus staffing factories and homes but question whether the company can deliver on these promises given past production challenges.
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 6:00:23 PM
Elon Musk stressed the importance of maintaining tight control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics project, known as Optimus, which aims to produce millions of robots globally with a unit cost under $20,000, less than a third of a Model Y car[4]. He warned of the significant economic impact these robots could have, projecting that within 4 to 5 years they will start affecting national GDPs worldwide, signaling a transformative shift in global labor and productivity[7]. International responses remain varied, with some experts impressed by Tesla's rapid advancement and ambitious pricing, while skepticism persists about the robots' readiness and practical use cases across different countries[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 6:10:19 PM
Elon Musk is aggressively asserting control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics initiative, Optimus, amid intensifying competitive shifts as Tesla pivots from electric vehicles toward robotics. He projects that about 80% of Tesla’s future valuation will derive from Optimus robots, aiming to produce thousands by 2025 despite production setbacks and trade-related material shortages[2][4]. This strategic shift challenges incumbents in AI robotics, with Musk emphasizing the need to manage Tesla’s “robot army” closely, reflecting his concern over the emerging competitive landscape in physical AI innovation[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 6:20:21 PM
Elon Musk emphasized his concern over maintaining strong influence, if not outright control, of Tesla’s upcoming "robot army," the Optimus humanoid robots, during Tesla’s latest investor call, stating, "I don’t feel comfortable building that robot army unless I have a strong influence" over it[1][2]. He announced plans to begin production of Optimus Gen 3 in Q1 2026, after missing earlier targets of producing thousands by the end of 2025 due to early production challenges[1]. Musk envisions Optimus as a transformative product, capable of revolutionizing society by eradicating poverty and providing universal access to medical care, projecting demand potentially reaching 10 billion units if the humanoid truly works as intended[
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 6:30:22 PM
Elon Musk is asserting stronger control over Tesla’s humanoid robotics division as he pivots the company’s future toward Optimus robots, projecting they will constitute approximately 80% of Tesla’s value, a stark shift from its traditional electric vehicle business[2][4]. Facing production delays and leadership changes, Musk aims to ramp up Optimus production with a third generation planned for early 2026, navigating a competitive landscape where AI and physical robotics are becoming central to tech innovation, highlighted by Nvidia’s recent $3,499 developer kit launch for robotics[2][3]. Musk’s vision underscores a potential market transformation, anticipating long-term revenues exceeding $10 trillion, with Tesla positioning to lead in the emergent humanoid robot sector despite present challenges[
🔄 Updated: 10/26/2025, 6:40:19 PM
Elon Musk emphasized the technical and governance challenges of bringing Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, to market, describing commercialization as "insanely hard" and indicating that production of the third version could begin in Q1 2026 after early production issues[1][4]. He highlighted the ambitious scale potential, projecting that demand might reach "10 billion units" if the robot truly succeeds, underscoring a future where humanoid-to-human ratios could exceed 2:1, fundamentally transforming labor and AI integration[2]. Musk’s push for greater voting control aims to secure his leadership over this “robot army” and Tesla’s long-term AI-driven projects amid increased 2026 capital expenditures and rising competition for AI talent[4].