Elon Musk’s humanoid robot, known as Optimus, is making waves. It is looking to become one of the biggest players in the quickly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI). Optimus’ first public appearance was at a Tesla shareholders’ meeting in 2022. Since then, it has amazed onlookers in Tesla’s showrooms and surprised fans by appearing in unexpected locales such as Kim Kardashian’s backyard. Musk envisions Optimus as the key to humanity’s success in the AI age. Today, he has plans to get these robots into homes and workplaces around the world.
During a recent all–Tesla investors meeting, Musk continued to highlight the staggering potential of Optimus. He said with certainty that it could one day eclipse the vehicle business in significance. He imagines shipping a million of the new Optimus robots in the next 10 years, making Tesla’s dominance in the AI field even more inevitable. The price of the robot… $20,000. People can control it today by using virtual reality headsets, as noted by The Wall Street Journal.
While releasing Optimus was certainly a publicity stunt, it is not an outlier. Other companies are investing heavily in humanoid robots. For one thing, Foxconn plans to use robots like Optimus at its future Nvidia factory in Texas. This increasing dynamic is a clear indication of a broader sea change in how industries will conduct business in the decades ahead.
CEO Elon Musk has painted an ambitious picture for Optimus that goes well beyond factories. He’s convinced that these robots can change daily life for the better. From cooking meals to managing dynamic supply chains, they will take care of the mundane and complex industrial tasks alike.
Optimus has previously been seen demonstrating flashy abilities, performing spectacular leaps, cartwheels and backflips. These accomplishments not only showcase the cutting-edge tech that powers the robot but it’s versatility in a variety of different environments.
Musk’s confidence in Optimus is echoed by industry experts. Brian Hopkins, an analyst with a keen eye on technological advancements, noted that “if current trajectories hold, humanoid robots could disrupt many physical-service industries significantly by 2030.” This prediction highlights the urgency and importance of developing robots like Optimus within the broader context of evolving labor markets.
Yet despite this progress, significant skepticism remains about how and when humanoid robots will enter our world. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, understood the immense transformative potential of humanoids like Optimus. He cautioned that society may not be prepared for such a disruptive shift.
“Tesla AI might play a role in AGI, given that it trains against the outside world, especially with the advent of Optimus.” – Elon Musk
Musk remains bullish about the future of AI and humanoid robotics. Yet other scientists highlight how much more efficient and less wasteful the old way is. As one early scientist expressed, “wheels are so much more efficient.” In his talk, he argued that despite the benefits promised by humanoid robots, we need to look at the practicality of things too.