In a recent development, it has been reported that Ganesh Venkataramanan, the lead of Tesla Inc.'s groundbreaking Dojo supercomputer project, has departed from the company. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported on Thursday that Venkataramanan left Tesla in November after overseeing the project for the past five years.

This news comes as a surprise to the industry, as Venkataramanan played a crucial role in the development of Dojo, Tesla's ambitious initiative to enhance its autonomous driving capabilities by processing vast amounts of data and video. In fact, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk had previously announced that the company would invest "well over" $1 billion in Dojo.

While Tesla has not yet commented on Venkataramanan's departure, it has been revealed that former Apple Inc. executive, Peter Bannon, has taken over the reins of the Dojo project. Bannon, known for his expertise in technology and AI, is expected to lead the effort in further refining and advancing the capabilities of Tesla's supercomputer.

Dojo was first introduced to the world at Tesla's inaugural AI Day in 2021, where it was presented alongside Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus. The unveiling generated considerable excitement within the industry, as Dojo is seen as a potential game-changer for Tesla's progress towards achieving full autonomy.

The departure of Venkataramanan and the appointment of Bannon mark a significant transition for the Dojo project. With Bannon's vast experience and leadership, Tesla aims to forge ahead in harnessing the power of Dojo to improve its electric vehicle technology and bring fully autonomous driving closer to reality.

As Tesla continues its pursuit of cutting-edge technologies, the industry will be closely watching the progress and impact of Dojo under Bannon's guidance. The company's commitment to investing substantial resources in this project indicates its determination to push the boundaries of autonomous driving, and the results will undoubtedly shape the future of the EV industry.