Tesla is making significant strides in its in-house AI chip development, with CEO Elon Musk confirming that the next-generation AI5 chip is close to completion and work on AI6 has already begun. Musk revealed in a recent X post that the design for AI5 is almost finished, with plans for AI6 and beyond already in the works. He also issued a bold call to potential hires, stating that Tesla aims to produce the highest volume AI chips in the world.
The AI5 chip, also known as Hardware 5 (HW5), is set to revolutionize artificial intelligence silicon within Tesla’s vehicles, data centers, and robotics. Expected to deliver up to a 50x improvement over the current AI4 hardware used for Full Self-Driving, AI5 represents a significant advancement in Tesla’s autonomy ambitions. While Musk has hinted at the chip nearing completion, it won’t be integrated into production vehicles until mid-2027.
Production of the AI5 chip will be a collaborative effort between TSMC and Samsung at U.S.-based facilities, with Tesla targeting mass production in 2027. Musk has previously touted AI5 as the best inference chip globally, underscoring its importance in Tesla’s AI ecosystem. Looking ahead, AI6 is slated to follow in 2028, with Tesla securing a substantial $16.5 billion deal with Samsung for chip manufacturing in the U.S. Musk envisions AI6 as potentially becoming the leading AI chip across various industries, not just within automotive applications.
Beyond vehicle applications, Tesla’s custom silicon will also power its Optimus humanoid robots and potentially Neuralink hardware, showcasing the company’s commitment to vertically integrating AI technology across multiple product lines. Musk commended Tesla’s internal AI team for their groundbreaking work, highlighting their inventive approach to running advanced AI models on more cost-effective hardware.
With AI7, AI8, and AI9 on the horizon, Tesla’s silicon roadmap is poised to reshape the AI hardware landscape, setting a new standard for design, production, and deployment on a large scale. The company’s aggressive approach to AI chip development underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and solidifying its position as a leader in autonomous technology.