Milan Kovac, the former engineering lead for Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot project, has announced his departure, handing over the reins to Ashok Elluswamy, the head of Autopilot. Kovac cited his desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for his resignation and expressed his confidence in the team's ability to continue the project's success. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recognized both individuals as pivotal members of the AI team.

Last year, Tesla unveiled the Optimus prototype, demonstrating its remote-controlled capabilities and garnering significant attention. Musk envisions Optimus as a potential assistant for household chores, with a projected price range of $20,000 to $30,000. By the end of the year, Tesla aims to deploy thousands of Optimus units within its internal factories, with plans to achieve an annual production of millions by the end of the decade.