Tesla's "Grand Plan 4" Released: Massively Integrating AI into the Physical World to Achieve a "Sustainable Abundance" Society

Tesla's future is to continue leading the electric vehicle revolution or to become an artificial intelligence company? Its latest grand blueprint provides an answer but also sparks more controversy and skepticism.

On September 2, Tesla officially released the "Master Plan Part IV" on the X platform, completely rewriting the company's grand narrative. It unprecedentedly shifts the company's development focus from electric vehicles and energy to artificial intelligence and robotics, aiming to achieve a "sustainable abundance" society through the large-scale integration of AI into the physical world.

This plan builds on Tesla's nearly two decades of accumulation in electric vehicles, energy products, and humanoid robots, and proposes five guiding principles such as "growth is infinite" and "innovation eliminates limitations," declaring that the company is entering an unprecedented growth period, committed to accelerating global prosperity through technologies like autonomous driving and humanoid robots.

However, this programmatic document is facing sharp criticism for lacking a concrete execution path, being accused of "empty talk about AI."

Fred Lambert, a commentator for the media outlet Electrek, stated that the plan is "just a hodgepodge of vague AI promises," even mocking its humanoid robot for "not being able to serve popcorn properly." Compared to Musk's previous clear and executable master plans, the fourth part seems more like "opium for Tesla shareholders," aimed at indulging them in the fantasy of "infinite growth" in AI stocks without actual support.

Grand Vision: AI-Driven "Sustainable Abundance"

In the "Master Plan Part IV," Tesla defines its ultimate goal as "achieving unbounded sustainability without compromise."

The document emphasizes from the outset that Tesla is building products and services that bring artificial intelligence into the physical world and has been laying the groundwork for nearly two decades, covering electric vehicles, energy products, and humanoid robots.

The plan proposes five guiding principles:

• Growth is infinite: Technological innovation can solve resource scarcity issues and create more economic opportunities.

• Innovation eliminates limitations: Just as Tesla broke through battery technology bottlenecks through innovation, continuous innovation can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

• Technology solves real problems: Products like autonomous vehicles and the Optimus robot aim to address real-world issues such as traffic safety, efficiency, and repetitive or hazardous labor.

• Autonomous driving must benefit all humanity: Its development and application should focus on enhancing human well-being.

• Wider adoption drives greater growth: Providing advanced technology products at affordable prices on a large scale is a necessary condition for building a prosperous society.

Tesla claims that the company is in a "revolutionary period of unprecedented growth," which will be "a leap for Tesla and all humanity," with the ultimate goal of establishing a "sustainable abundant world." Below is the full text of the "Tesla Master Plan Part IV":

Tesla Master Plan Part IV

Introduction

Since the establishment of Tesla, every version of our grand blueprint has focused on our North Star: achieving unrestrained sustainability without compromise.

Humanity is a toolmaker. At Tesla, we manufacture physical products at scale and low cost, aiming to improve the lives of everyone.

With the increasing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, it is no surprise that the mission proposed in the fourth chapter of the grand blueprint has emerged.

The next chapter of the Tesla story will help us create a world we have only just begun to imagine, and achieve it on a scale we have yet to see. We are building products and services that bring artificial intelligence into the physical world.

Over the past nearly two decades, we have laid the foundation for this technological renaissance by developing electric vehicles, energy products, and humanoid robots, and we have worked tirelessly for it.

Now, we are combining manufacturing capabilities with autonomous driving technology to offer new products and services that accelerate global prosperity and human well-being, achieving economic growth that benefits everyone. We are unifying hardware and software at scale, creating a safer, cleaner, and more livable world in the process.

This is sustainable abundance.

Guiding Principles

Growth is limitless.

Growth in one area does not necessarily lead to decline in another. Resource shortages can be addressed through improved technology, greater innovation, and new ideas.

The technology that empowers us to drive machines has brought about the industrial revolution, broadened our economic landscape, and created more opportunities for all. Breakthrough inventions like semiconductors and the internet have expanded—rather than diminished—the social and economic opportunities for humanity in various aspects, from creating more jobs to providing greater access to information, to achieving deeper interpersonal connections.

We aspire to transcend what is considered achievable, which will foster the growth necessary for true sustainable abundance.

Innovation eliminates limitations.

For centuries, the primary mode of transportation for humanity was horses. Then, in the past fifty years, fossil fuel-powered internal combustion engine vehicles became the standard and expected mode of transport. The idea that batteries could be produced cheaply and scaled sufficiently to free the transportation industry from fossil fuels seemed futile—until Tesla pioneered the way forward.

Through continuous innovation, we have overcome the technological limitations of battery development and established an industry powered by renewable resources.

Technology solves real problems.

Products and services that accelerate the transition to sustainable abundance will drive human progress by addressing real-world problems. To further accelerate our innovation, every product we manufacture is more efficient and sustainable than the last

Solar power generation and large-scale battery storage are improving the availability and reliability of clean electricity in our communities—while also being more affordable and sustainable.

Autonomous vehicles have the potential to significantly enhance the affordability, availability, and safety of transportation, while reducing pollution, especially in our increasingly dense global cities.

Optimus—our humanoid robot—not only changes the perception of labor itself but also alters its availability and capabilities. Tasks that are particularly monotonous or dangerous can now be accomplished in other ways. In this way, Optimus's mission is to give people more time to do what they love.

Autonomy must benefit all of humanity.

The tools we manufacture at Tesla help us produce products that drive human prosperity.

How we develop and use autonomous technology—and the new capabilities it brings us—should be guided by its ability to enhance the human condition. Through our autonomous technology, making everyone's daily life better and safer has always been and will continue to be our focus.

Greater access leads to greater growth.

Building a prosperous and unrestricted society requires the manufacture of high-tech products that are affordable and scalable. It helps further democratize society while improving the quality of life for everyone. The hallmark of elite management is creating opportunities for everyone to apply their skills to achieve everything they can imagine.

Everyone should have access to these opportunities, and technological advancement can help ensure that each of us maximizes our most limited resource: time.

We are accelerating the world's transition to sustainable prosperity.

We must be clear about one thing: this challenge will be extremely difficult to overcome. Eliminating scarcity will require relentless and exquisite execution. Some will think it impossible. Many others will mock every obstacle and setback we inevitably encounter along the way. But once we overcome this challenge, our critics will understand that what they once thought impossible is indeed possible. That doesn't matter to us, because what is most important is that we collectively create a sustainable and truly prosperous future for generations to come.

All valuable journeys are long. They all begin with the first step.

Our first step was to create an exciting sports car—the Roadster. Then we used those profits to fund the development and production of more affordable yet equally exciting products—the Model S and Model X. We then repeated this process, bringing forth the Model 3 and Model Y, and continued to move forward.

This process required us to take many steps, some small and some large. But ultimately, each victory led to another victory, and even when we faced failures, we were able to continue building momentum. Our momentum has allowed us to establish a fully integrated sustainable product ecosystem, from transportation to energy generation, battery storage, and robotics.

Today, we are on the brink of a revolutionary era, ready to embrace unprecedented growth. And this time, it will not be a single step, but a leap for Tesla and all of humanity. The tools we will develop will help us build the world we have always dreamed of—a sustainably prosperous world—by redefining the fundamental components of labor, transportation, and energy on a massive scale for everyone.

Voices of Doubt: An AI Empire or an AI Fantasy?

Media commentator Fred Lambert from Electrek stated:

Tesla has finally released the fourth chapter of its Master Plan, but it's just a hodgepodge of AI promises about its humanoid robot—one that can't even serve popcorn properly. For over a year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been teasing the release of the fourth chapter of the Master Plan. Since 2006, Musk has continuously released "secret master plans" for Tesla to outline the company's broader mission and product roadmap. Musk himself recently admitted that the second chapter of the Master Plan released in 2016 is still not completed to this day. He believes it can be achieved "next year," but we've heard that before.

Tesla as a company has lost its direction. This is a bunch of utopian nonsense, filled with AI "abundance" buzzwords that even GrokAI could easily write. Musk's first two master plans were straightforward, with clear, actionable steps and a defined product roadmap. In contrast, this plan serves as opium for Tesla shareholders, giving them a thrill from the "unlimited growth" potential of AI stocks. This is not real.

Everyone can see the value of a humanoid robot that can autonomously perform useful tasks at an affordable price. You don't need to sell people on a weird utopian future built around it. Start by proving you can make such a robot. We have yet to see any evidence. I know I might sound like a hater, but I don't care. Tesla is not a company that is about to deliver a "sustainable abundance" future.

Tesla is a company that once performed miracles, significantly accelerating the world's transition to electric transportation. Then, its CEO went crazy. Sales began to decline, profits started to drop, and to maintain an absurd stock price, the CEO decided to ride the AI bubble. That's all there is to it. Many netizens are skeptical about Tesla's success in the AI field, believing that Musk's management style and company culture may pose challenges in recruiting top AI talent, making it far less attractive compared to giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon.

He is unlikely to succeed in AI because he is the only one leading the effort. His management style is to issue tasks and then yell at engineers until things get done.

The competition for talent recruitment is fierce, and currently, OpenAI, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon are all much more attractive than working for a capricious narcissist with authoritarian political views.

Another netizen asked: So when does Tesla actually plan to complete the Master Plan [1], [2], or [3]?

Master Plan 1 from 2006:

1. Build a sports car.

2. Use the money to build an affordable car.

3. Use the money to build an even more affordable car.

4. While doing the above, provide zero-emission power options.

The Roadster counts as completing step 1. The Model S is a luxury car and does not count as affordable. The Model 3 might be considered affordable, so we can call it step 2. Since Elon Musk canceled the Model 2, there is no real mass-market vehicle cheaper than the Model 3, so step 3 is incomplete. They have not provided a meaningful solar power solution, so step 4 is also incomplete.

Master Plan 2 from 2016:

1. Create an amazing solar roof that integrates seamlessly with energy storage batteries.

2. Expand the electric vehicle product line to cover all major market segments.

3. Develop autonomous driving capabilities that are 10 times safer than human manual driving through large-scale fleet learning.

4. Allow your car to earn money for you when you are not using it.

The solar roof is a scam and has never been as successful as shown in [4][5][6][7], so step 1 is incomplete. They have indeed expanded the electric vehicle product line to most consumer segments most suitable for the mass market, so optimistically we can call step 2 complete. However, if we understand this as covering all major market segments (for example, the commercial vehicle sector hinted at by their Semi truck), then step 2 is incomplete. Their vehicles do not have autonomous driving capabilities and continue to fail even under basic, simple road conditions [8], so step 3 is incomplete. They are doubly unable to deliver on the promise made to investors and consumers to allow you to earn money through robotaxi services when you are not using your car, so step 4 is also incomplete.

Master Plan 3 from 2023:

1. Recharge the existing grid with renewable energy.

2. Transition to electric vehicles

3. Transition to heat pumps in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors

4. Electrification for high-temperature heat delivery and hydrogen production

5. Provide sustainable fuel for airplanes and ships

6. Create a sustainable energy economy

This is not even Tesla's plan. It feels more like some kind of public policy analysis/proposal? Aside from electric vehicles, they have not made any substantial involvement in the other industries mentioned above, and in the two years since the release of the Master Plan 3, they have not shown any meaningful effort to enter these sectors.

So, 19 years have passed, and they have failed 2 out of the 4 steps in Master Plan 1. 9 years have passed, and they have failed 3 out of the 4 steps in Master Plan 2. 2 years have passed, and they haven't even started 5 out of the 6 steps in Master Plan 3. And now, they have come up with this so-called Master Plan 4, which isn't even a coherent plan. At least Master Plans 1 and 2 could be considered feasible plans. This 'plan' is just a lengthy marketing boast