Elon Musk's Robot Army Is Coming — If He Gets Total Control First

Core Insights - Tesla Inc reported $28.1 billion in quarterly sales, an increase from $25.2 billion year-over-year, highlighting significant revenue growth while also outlining a strategic vision focused on AI and robotics [1] Governance and Control - Elon Musk raised concerns about governance, noting that approximately half of Tesla's publicly-traded shares are controlled by passive index funds that delegate voting to advisory firms like ISS and Glass Lewis [2] - Musk criticized these advisory firms for voting based on political lines rather than shareholder interests, citing an instance where ISS recommended voting against two Tesla directors due to "insufficient gender diversity" [3] Strategic Vision for AI and Robotics - Musk emphasized the need for control over governance before launching Tesla's AI ambitions, indicating that the upcoming vote on November 6th is crucial for scaling AI initiatives without external interference [4] - Tesla is positioning itself as both an AI compute company and a manufacturing powerhouse, with the A5 chip being developed to be twice as efficient and up to ten times cheaper than competitors, allowing for complete control over its AI infrastructure [4] Focus on Humanoids and Data Advantage - The Optimus humanoids are central to Tesla's strategy, with Musk referring to them as the "infinite money glitch," emphasizing that the challenge lies in scaling rather than intelligence [5] - Tesla plans to launch robotaxis in multiple states by year-end, leveraging six billion supervised miles of data, and aims to build a comprehensive AI infrastructure from chips to robots [6] Future Outlook - While investors typically focus on electric vehicles, Tesla's primary ambition is in AI-powered robotics and autonomy, with the November 6th vote potentially determining whether Tesla evolves from a carmaker to a full-fledged AI empire [7]