Tesla has recently announced that their humanoid robot, Optimus, is now assisting in tasks at the factory. The company made this announcement before the shareholder vote on Elon Musk’s pay package. Two Optimus robots are autonomously performing tasks in the factory, although it is not specified which tasks or which factory they are operating in. Business Insider reached out to Tesla for confirmation but did not receive an immediate response.
During Tesla’s recent earnings call in April, Musk mentioned that Optimus would be able to handle factory roles by the end of the year and could potentially be available for sale by 2025. Musk has expressed high hopes for the AI-powered humanoid, claiming that Optimus could be more valuable than anything else Tesla is currently working on. He even went as far as saying that the economy’s potential would be limitless once the “sentient humanoid robot” became a reality.
While Optimus has made significant advancements from its early stage as a person in a robot suit, it still has not reached Musk’s ultimate vision. Tesla has shared videos showcasing Optimus performing tasks like squats, picking up an egg, and folding a shirt. However, Musk later clarified that the robot cannot fold a shirt autonomously. Despite Musk’s ambitions, other companies are also diving into the use of robots in production lines. BMW partnered with robotics startup Figure to deploy robots in its South Carolina factory, while Chinese automakers like Dongfeng Motors and Nio are also exploring similar technologies with local robotics firms. Elon Musk has identified China’s EV builders as a significant threat to Tesla’s market dominance, making these advancements in robotics a key battleground for the future of car production.
Tesla’s Optimus robot is now assisting with tasks at their factory ahead of Elon Musk’s pay package vote. The company announced two robots were performing autonomously at an unspecified factory without confirmation from Business Insider. During an April earnings call, Musk stated that Optimus would be ready for factory roles by year-end and available for sale by 2025 with hopes of being more valuable than any other project at Tesla.
Tesla’s optimistic plans for their AI-powered humanoid have not yet been fully realized despite impressive progress from its initial stages as a person in a suit form.
Tesla released videos showcasing Optimus performing various tasks like squats and picking up objects but later confirmed it cannot fold shirts autonomously.
Musk’s ambition extends beyond just one company as other companies explore similar technologies with local partners such as BMW teaming up with Figure to deploy robots in their South Carolina facility while Chinese automakers Dongfeng Motors and Nio also delve into this area.
Elon Musk sees China’s EV builders as a potential threat to Tesla’s market dominance making these advancements in robotics crucial for gaining ground on his competitors.
In conclusion, while Tesla’s Optimus may not yet have achieved all that Elon Musk envisions for it, there is no doubt about its importance to both the company and the future of manufacturing across industries worldwide.
