Tesla has denied reports that it hired former Cruise Head of Autonomy Henry Kuang to lead its AI and deep learning efforts for autonomous driving. The company confirmed the claims circulating online and in several media outlets were false.
Reports earlier today suggested that Kuang had been appointed as Tesla’s new Director of AI and Deep Learning for Autonomous Driving. The rumor gained traction after a LinkedIn profile appeared to show Kuang taking on the new role at Tesla. However, the profile has since been removed, and the company has clarified that no such hire occurred.
Tesla’s Head of Autopilot and AI, Ashok Elluswamy, addressed the misinformation directly, stating, “fake news”
fake news
— Ashok Elluswamy (@aelluswamy) June 27, 2025
The incident comes amid a wave of leadership changes at Tesla. The company recently parted ways with Omead Afshar, previously a key figure in North American and European operations, and Jenna Ferrua, head of Human Resources in Austin, Texas.
Earlier this week, Tesla began offering limited access to its Robotaxi service, allowing select users to experience driverless rides for the first time. While Tesla continues to advance its autonomous driving initiatives, the company emphasized that its current leadership team remains intact.