Ilon Musk has raised the stakes again in the race for artificial intelligence
The billionaire stressed that optimizing algorithms for humanoids is a key priority for Tesla that could fundamentally change not only the car business, but the entire technology ecosystem.
This step is a logical continuation of the company’s shift of strategic focus from electric cars to physical AI and robotics, in which Musk sees the future not only for his company, but in a sense for humanity as a whole, notes benzinga.com.
Shares fall, but investor interest persists
Against the backdrop of these statements, Tesla shares (ticker TSLA) are showing mixed dynamics.
В analysis barrons.com highlights that on March 3, 2026, the stock lost 2.7% to close near $392.43, partly due to general market pressure, rising bond yields and rising oil prices weighing on the technology sector.
Overall, TSLA has been in negative territory since the beginning of the year – they have lost about 10% of their capitalization. At the same time, Tesla stock has posted a year-to-date gain of more than 40%. This reflects the long-term interest of investors in new lines of business and in the activities of Ilon Musk in general.
Analysts note that the periodic volatility is the result of a combination of regulatory risks, product delays and the scale of capital expenditures on robotics and AI.
According to Morgan Stanley, stopping the Model S and Model X and redirecting capacity to Optimus (humanoid robots) has put significant risks, but also upside potential, into the capitalization.
However, the current market values Tesla as a technology company with an eye on AI and robotics, not just an automaker, which explains the high multiple valuations. Barrons.com estimates that the company’s current market value is 200 times its expected net income through 2026, affecting investors’ willingness to pay for the company’s future growth. And this is against the backdrop of a marked decline in electric vehicle sales.
Risks and contradictions of Musk’s strategy
All this, of course, cannot but make the market nervous. On the one hand, Musk’s statements about Tesla’s position in the AGI race strengthen the confidence of investors “obsessed with AI strategies”.
On the other hand, some analysts call Musk’s statements “speculative” and point out that Tesla has failed to meet many AI targets in the past, which reduces confidence in the new timelines and expectations.
Some experts also emphasize that the implementation of AGI will require huge investments and new technological advances, with uncertain timelines.
All this increases short-term volatility, but in the long term, if successful, could radically increase capitalization and change Tesla’s business model.
