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Tesla’s Optimus Humanoid Robot Program Chief Milan Kovac Resigns

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Milan Kovac, head of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot program, announced his departure from the company in a post on X on Friday, citing personal reasons for the decision. Kovac, who took charge of the program in 2022 as director of Optimus and Autopilot Engineering and was promoted to vice president in 2023, stated that his decision was driven solely by the need to spend more time with his family abroad.

“I’ve been far away from home for too long, and will need to spend more time with family abroad. I want to make it clear that this is the only reason,” Kovac said on social media.

According to Bloomberg News, which first reported the news, Kovac will leave his position immediately. Leadership of the Optimus program will now transition to Ashok Elluswamy, who currently heads Tesla’s Autopilot division. Neither Tesla nor Elluswamy have publicly commented on the leadership change.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously emphasized the central role that the Optimus robot and full autonomy play in the company’s long-term future. “The only things that matter in the long term are autonomy and Optimus,” Musk told CNBC in May.

Musk has stated that Tesla aims to produce thousands of Optimus robots this year, though the project has faced supply chain obstacles. In April, Musk noted that China’s export restrictions on rare-earth magnets had affected production of the humanoid robots.

Tesla has increasingly focused its business strategy on autonomous technology, including both the Optimus robots and the company’s anticipated robotaxi service. Much of Tesla’s future valuation, Musk has indicated, is tied to the success of these initiatives.

Amazon to Test Humanoid Robots for Future Deliveries

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Amazon is preparing to test humanoid robots that could one day replace human delivery workers, according to a report from The Information on Wednesday. Citing a person familiar with the company’s plans, the report reveals that Amazon is building an indoor testing facility dubbed a “humanoid park” at one of its San Francisco offices.

The park will serve as an obstacle course designed to simulate the complex environments that delivery robots may face, allowing Amazon to evaluate how well the robots can navigate real-world delivery scenarios.

Currently, Amazon is focusing on developing the artificial intelligence software necessary to operate these humanoid robots, while relying on hardware provided by third-party companies during initial tests.

Amazon has not publicly commented on the report.

AI-Driven Automation Push

The humanoid robot tests are part of Amazon’s broader push to integrate AI and robotics across its logistics operations. In a series of announcements on Wednesday, Amazon showcased how it plans to use AI-powered systems in its warehouses, stockrooms, and delivery network, all aimed at improving efficiency and speeding up package deliveries.

The company already uses a wide range of automation technologies, including robotic arms, sorting machines, and warehouse bots, but humanoid robots represent a significant next step that could eventually reshape the role of human workers in Amazon’s vast delivery network.

Industry Implications

Amazon’s move reflects a growing trend in the tech and logistics sectors, where companies are investing heavily in advanced robotics to handle labor-intensive tasks amid rising costs and ongoing labor challenges.

While humanoid robots have long been seen as a futuristic concept, advances in AI, machine learning, and robotics hardware are now making human-like functionality more feasible for real-world commercial applications.

However, such developments are likely to raise new debates over job displacement, labor rights, and regulatory oversight, especially as major employers like Amazon explore ways to automate traditionally human roles.

Nvidia CEO Predicts Humanoid Robot Revolution Within Five Years

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has predicted that humanoid robots will become widely used in manufacturing within the next few years, much sooner than many expect. Speaking at the company’s annual developer conference in San Jose, California, Huang unveiled new software tools designed to help robots navigate real-world environments more effectively.

In a conversation with journalists after his keynote address, Huang emphasized that the widespread presence of humanoid robots is not a long-term vision but an imminent reality. He suggested that manufacturing will be the first industry to adopt these robots due to its structured environment and well-defined tasks, making automation more feasible.

Factories provide a controlled setting where humanoid robots can be integrated with minimal disruption, Huang explained. He also highlighted the economic advantages, noting that the cost of renting a humanoid robot could be around $100,000, making them a viable alternative to human labor in certain roles.

Nvidia’s advancements in AI and robotics continue to drive innovation in automation, with the company at the forefront of enabling next-generation robotic systems.