The capacity cuts will have a negligible effect on performance because memory bandwidth is a larger limiting factor than total storage, according to Musk. Tesla held the bandwidth constant during the adjustment to maintain operational speeds. This modification allows the company to scale hardware volume without sacrificing the processing efficiency of the AI.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Tesla Cuts AI5 Chip RAM to 72GB for Optimus Volume
Tech19 days ago
Elon Musk announced that the company is adjusting its hardware specifications to lower the cost of its robotics division. Tesla halved the RAM on the AI5 chip to 72GB of LP5 and cut the AI6 chip memory by one third to 144GB of LP6 to ensure sufficient volume for mass production, Musk said. These reductions were the only way to secure a steady supply of components and eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks for the Optimus humanoid robot.
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