Technology

Elon Musk Aims for Increased Influence in AI through Tesla Share Control

Published January 16, 2024

The quest for supremacy in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics has led to a significant struggle for control within the industry. This competition for dominance was palpable in the case of OpenAI, with substantial disputes over the governance and direction of the organization. As a follow-up to this, Elon Musk has set his sights on consolidating more voting power within Tesla, Inc., another powerhouse in the pursuit of advanced AI and robotics.

Elon Musk's Aspirations for Tesla

Elon Musk, the groundbreaking entrepreneur, has expressed his desire to augment his voting stake in Tesla from the current 15% to a more commanding 25%. Such a move is driven by his ambition to position Tesla as the forefront leader in the field of AI and robotics, industries where the potential for growth and innovation is vast. Musk's rationale is rooted in the belief that a larger share of voting control is crucial for him to navigate Tesla effectively towards this goal.

The Significance of AI and Robotics Control

In a world marching towards the singularity—an era of AI sophistication indistinguishable from human intelligence—Musk's intentions reflect a broader acknowledgment of the transformative power of AI and robotics. He, along with thought leaders like Sam Altman of OpenAI, recognize the inevitability and the immense value that lies in the convergence of super AI with advanced robotics technologies.

Lessons from OpenAI

Challenges in steering OpenAI's trajectory revealed the limitations faced by Musk in terms of control, despite being a co-founder. His experiences have lent weight to his firm belief in the necessity of a quarter of the voting rights to ensure significant influence within Tesla, while also allowing for the possibility of being counterbalanced if required. As Musk stated, without such influence, he would consider driving AI and robotics advancements outside the framework of Tesla.

Understanding the Stakes

Musk's perspective is not without basis. The potential for Tesla's AI and robotics sector, specifically the Teslabot, to burgeon into a multi-trillion-dollar industry by 2030, underscores the critical nature of leadership and control in shaping its future. Therefore, bolstering the chances for the success of Teslabot from a mere 10% to an unequivocal 100% is seen by Musk as an imperative venture.

A New Compensation Strategy?

Incentive models, such as a CEO compensation package that awards additional voting shares based on the achievement of major objectives, could serve as a motivating force. Comparing this to the legendary labors of Hercules, Musk implies that such challenges would require Herculean efforts. However, previous performance awards have proven successful in Tesla's history, significantly multiplying its market capitalization and aligning Musk's incentives with the interests of Tesla and its shareholders.

The Potential Future for Tesla

Speculating on future incentives, if the success witnessed after the 2018 compensation plan could be replicated with a new plan in 2024, Tesla's value could soar to approximately $10 trillion by the end of the decade, a testament to the potential of AI and robotics as a formidable sector within Tesla's empire.

AI, Tesla, ElonMusk