Tesla Hires Apple Scientist for Optimus Team
Tesla has scored a major coup by hiring Yilun Chen, a former research scientist at Apple. This move is significant as it brings in someone with extensive experience and expertise to the cutting-edge world of humanoid robotics.Key TakeawaysYilun Chen joins Tesla's Optimus team after a four-year stint at Apple.The move was driven by the momentum around Optimus, which uses large language model (LLM) reasoning and physical AI.Tesla's flat structure and rapid prototyping culture impressed Chen during his visit to the Optimus lab.Chen's departure from Apple marks a significant chapter in his career. He spent nearly four years at the tech giant, where he advanced from individual contributor to technical lead, working on various projects that remain unreleased today. His roles included engineering...