Elon Musk wants ‘strong influence’ over the ‘robot army’ he is building

Tesla could be that an electric car manufacturer, but CEO Elon Musk has made it clear that he thinks much more of it: an innovator in the field of artificial intelligence and software, a builder of earth-shattering robots. He also argued that Tesla should be worth much more than it is now: up to $20 trillion, he says posted in Julymore than five times Nvidia’s current value.

Musk has also made it clear that he wants to get paid a lot. In November, Tesla shareholders will vote on the board’s proposal to pay the CEO a remarkable $1 trillion over the next decade. The deal would also increase Musk’s stake in Tesla from 13 percent to a quarter. But Musk would only get that big figure – and the extra scrutiny – if he hits a set of ambitious numbers, including 20 million vehicles delivered, 1 million robotaxis in commercial operation, and a valuation of $8.5 trillion. And 1 million Optimus humanoid robots have also been delivered.

On a call with investors on Wednesday, Musk focused on that last point, making his most threatening argument for a massive payday yet. “My fundamental concern about how much voting control I have at Tesla is: If I continue to build this massive robot army, could I be ousted at some point in the future?” he said. “If we build this robot army, will I at least have a strong influence on this robot army? Not control, but a strong influence… I don’t feel comfortable building that robot army unless I have a strong influence.”

Overall, Musk talks about Tesla’s Optimus project as more of a force for peace than war. He says Optimus will turn the job market upside down and free humanity from the drudgery of work. (“Work will be optional, like growing your own vegetables, instead of buying them from the store,” he says posted This week.) Elsewhere on the investor call Wednesday, he said Tesla’s robots would “truly create a world where there is no poverty, where everyone has access to the best medical care.”

Optimus, he added, “will be an incredible surgeon, and imagine if everyone had access to an incredible surgeon.” For Tesla, Optimus will be “an infinite money mistake,” Musk said, arguing that everyone wants a humanoid robot that can do their job for them.