Ashok Elluswamy, Vice President of AI Software at Tesla, recently offered a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into his experience working alongside Elon Musk. Speaking on a podcast hosted by YouTuber Gobinath, Elluswamy described Musk as both “funny” and “incredibly hardworking,” praising the tech leader’s sharp foresight and relentless work ethic.

“I meet with him every week,” Elluswamy shared. He is really smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early. He works really hard. Easily 80–90 hours per week. I feel fortunate to work for him. He is not afraid of taking risks. He is very funny. You can see it in person.”

The podcast also touched on Elluswamy’s Tamil heritage and his professional journey, which has seen him rise from a software engineer at Tesla in 2014 to head of the company’s AI software division in 2024. Born in Tamil Nadu, Elluswamy expressed pride in his roots and discussed how his background shaped his career path.

Tesla's VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy on what it's like to work with Elon Musk: "I meet with him every week. He is really smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early; He works really hard. Easily 80-90 hours per week. I feel fortunate to work for him. He is… https://t.co/dB5l6EbxEx pic.twitter.com/qLPB0v0hUd

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 14, 2025

Internet Reaction

A clip from the interview was later posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, quickly going viral. Social media users praised Musk’s leadership style, with many admiring his bold vision, hands-on involvement, and willingness to take risks. 

“Definitely Elon Musk would be great to work with and much to learn from him. His company's profile is adequate to understand the work ethics and his aggressiveness to get things done. With chaos comes the real magic of work, great work comes from a chaotic environment not peaceful and complacent. The goal is that you are not doing enough until your brain is  aching,” wrote one of the X users.

“Ashok Elluswamy's insights into working with Elon Musk highlight a dynamic leadership style focused on innovation and problem-solving, driving Tesla's advancements in AI and autonomous technology. Musk's predictive abilities and intense work ethic, as noted, are key to Tesla's vision of sustainable abundance through projects like vision-based autonomy and humanoid robotics. This approach not only fosters a culture of risk-taking and direct engagement but also aligns with Tesla's broader mission to transform industries through cutting-edge technology,” added a second user.