According to Sawyer Merritt, Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will begin high-volume production of its next-generation AI5 chip in 2027, with limited units available in 2026 (source: x.com/elonmusk/status/1985785525429850463). AI6 will use the same fabrication plants as AI5 but is expected to deliver approximately double the performance, targeting mid-2028 for volume production. The AI7 chip, described as 'more adventurous,' will require entirely new fabs. This roadmap highlights Tesla's commitment to advancing AI hardware for autonomous vehicles and robotics, presenting significant business opportunities in AI chip manufacturing and next-gen autonomous systems.

According to Sawyer Merritt on Twitter, Elon Musk stated that Tesla's upcoming AI5 (HW4) chip will offer the best performance per watt by a factor of 2 or 3, and the best performance per dollar by a factor of 10 compared to existing AI hardware solutions (source: Sawyer Merritt, Twitter, Oct 22, 2025). This positions Tesla to set a new standard in efficiency and cost-effectiveness for AI inference and training hardware, potentially disrupting the AI chip sector and opening substantial business opportunities in industries dependent on high-performance, energy-efficient AI computing.