Elon Musk Promises Humanoid Robots. Photo: X / @Tesla_Optimus.
In an announcement that has sparked both excitement and skepticism, Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently claimed the company is on track to produce “genuinely useful” humanoid robots, set to begin operation in Tesla’s factories as early as next year.
On his platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk expressed his hopes for a successful rollout:
“Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026”
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 22, 2024
Musk, the world’s richest individual with an estimated net worth of $250 billion, is known for his ambitious promises. He previously projected the readiness of these robots, dubbed Optimus, would happen much sooner. Back in 2021, he anticipated they would be operational in Tesla factories by the following year.
Optimus is designed to take on monotonous, repetitive, and hazardous tasks, standing about 1.7 meters tall and weighing approximately 56 kilograms. The robot's name references Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the Autobots from the popular Transformers media franchise.
Tesla first introduced the concept of the humanoid robot, initially referred to as the “Tesla Bot,” during an AI Day event in 2021. The event featured a memorable demonstration wherein an actor dressed in a bodysuit performed a breakdance routine set to electronic dance music, showcasing the potential of the technology.
At a subsequent AI Day in 2022, Musk, who has often suggested that the robot division could eventually surpass Tesla's automotive sales in value, showcased a working prototype of Optimus. The demonstrator walked onto the stage, waved to the audience, and a video displayed the robot engaging in various factory tasks, such as carrying boxes, watering plants, and moving metal bars.
Musk has ambitious plans for the mass production of the Optimus robots, aiming to keep the price point under $20,000 each.
Yet, this is not the first time Musk's projects have experienced delays. He faced criticism in 2019 when he confidently predicted that Tesla would launch self-driving taxis by the following year. More recently, he suggested an unveiling of a new vehicle model this August, only to indicate potential changes that could push the launch further back.
The excitement around a functional humanoid robot represents a bold step for Tesla, and it remains to be seen whether Musk can deliver on his promises once again.
