At Tesla’s highly anticipated ‘We, Robot’ event, CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company’s latest developments, including the new Robovan vehicle and a fleet of Optimus humanoid robots. A group of Optimus robots appeared onstage unexpectedly, demonstrating Tesla’s desire to integrate robotics into everyday life.
Musk added that Optimus is capable of performing a variety of activities, including package delivery and pet walking, as well as babysitting and bartending. He added that Tesla expects the robot’s long-term pricing to fall between $20,000 and $30,000.
“The Optimus will walk amongst you,” Musk said, emphasizing the robot’s flexibility by saying it could “do anything.” A video presentation showed Optimus fetching a gift from a porch, implying the types of household chores Tesla believes it can undertake. Despite these lofty claims, the robots’ actions at the occasion were limited to waving, holding cups, and handing out small gift bags. One Optimus robot played a game of rock-paper-scissors with visitors, while others danced inside a gazebo in a choreographed performance.
During the ceremony, Musk made bold predictions about Optimus’ potential, calling it “the biggest product ever of any kind.” He predicted that Tesla will eventually produce millions of units, implying that widespread adoption of Optimus might boost economic production by “two orders of magnitude” and lead to “a future without poverty.”
Since its inception in 2021, the Optimus project has evolved swiftly, starting with a performer dressed in a robot costume. In 2022, Tesla unveiled a crude prototype, signaling the start of a more serious endeavor to construct the humanoid robot. Earlier this year, Musk claimed that Optimus would be capable of doing practical jobs by the end of 2023, with commercial availability expected in late 2024.
Tesla’s concept for Optimus reflects the company’s optimistic view of the role of AI and robotics in creating the future. Musk’s claims about its economic impact and high-volume manufacture demonstrate his view that robots like Optimus may bring about significant societal change. However, it is unclear how quickly Tesla will be able to deliver on these claims.