Elon Musk Links Massive Pay Package to Control of Future Robot Army

Musk framed his request as a safeguard against future board intervention, questioning whether he should continue building the Optimus project if he lacks the authority to lead it indefinitely. The proposed compensation requires Musk to hit aggressive milestones, including the production of 1 million robotaxis and 1 million humanoid robots, alongside massive increases in Tesla's market valuation. While proxy-advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis have urged shareholders to vote against the plan, labeling the board’s proposal excessive, Musk dismissed these firms as corporate terrorists.

Despite the grandiosity of his vision, the technology remains in its infancy. Tesla’s Optimus units have previously relied on human remote control during public demonstrations and struggled with basic tasks like serving popcorn. Musk acknowledged the technical hurdles, specifically the challenge of replicating human dexterity, yet insisted that the upcoming Optimus V3, due in the first quarter of next year, will be indistinguishable from a person in a suit. Shareholders are scheduled to vote on the compensation package during the company’s annual meeting on November 7th, with many anticipating a comfortable approval despite the controversy surrounding the CEO's recent political activities and shifting rhetoric on AI safety.