Presented in 2021, Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robots, had something to make you smile. Between staging and exaggeration of the services offered, these robots are back in the news and could represent the new project for Musk’s company in 2024.
The first time Tesla’s humanoid robots were discussed was in 2021. The presentation could then make you smile since it was a disguised human who appeared on stage. In 2024, the Optimus robots are back in the news and could represent a new human and financial project for Tesla.
From prototype to factory
This Thursday, June 13, 2024, the annual meeting of Tesla shareholders was held. The opportunity for its CEO Elon Musk to reveal the results of his actions and the future projects of the company of which Optimus seems to occupy a preponderant place. From its human prototype, Tesla was able to present real robots appearing to fold laundry in a demonstration video. A performance which will not have failed to provoke reaction from robotics engineers, describing it as misleading: the robots, far from being autonomous, seemed to be piloted by humans.
Today, it is difficult to know what these humanoids can do, however Musk assures that they will one day behave like the characters of Star Wars, R2D2 or C3-Po. The official believes in the project, indicating that Optimus could one day increase Tesla’s market capitalization to the tune of $25 trillion. Which would be equivalent to eight times the current value of Apple, the largest company in terms of market capitalization. With such estimates, the businessman above all suggests that Optimus robots would bring in much more than electric cars, which are at the heart of Tesla’s activities.
Words, words, words
At the close of their general meeting, Tesla was valued at $580 billion. It is the 10th most valuable company in the S&P 500. This stock index is based on the 500 large companies listed on the stock exchange in the United States. It is an index covering 80% of the American stock market and maintained by Standard & Poor’s, a financial rating company. In 2024, Tesla presented financial results below expectations, with Musk choosing to lay off 10% of the company’s employees. Asked about his place in the company, Musk does not beat around the bush and declares: “I am a useful accelerator towards this future“.
The Tesla CEO did not provide a timeline for reaching this 25 trillion. Note that his previous financial commitments concerned the social network X (formerly Twitter), which lost almost half of its value one year after the takeover by Musk.
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