We know that Tesla is preparing a pretty scary humanoid robot. Well, know that it could arrive much faster than expected. This is what we know about it.
Tesla plans to commercialize its humanoid robot, Optimus, by the end of next year, according to statements from Elon Musk. This project is part of a broader trend where various companies are betting on humanoid robots to alleviate labor shortages. And automate repetitive and potentially dangerous tasks in sectors such as logistics. But also retail and manufacturing.
Are Tesla robots coming soon?
As Reuters reports, during a call with investors, Elon Musk expressed confidence in Tesla’s ability to carry out this project on a large scale. Thanks to its advances in integrated artificial intelligence. According to Musk, Tesla would be better positioned than its competitors to achieve volume production of humanoid robots. He also suggested that robot sales could eventually account for a larger share of Tesla’s revenue. Even more than automobile manufacturing itself!
This initiative is not isolated in the industry. Companies such as startup Figure, backed by Microsoft and Nvidia, and Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, are also developing humanoid robots. Figure recently announced a partnership with BMW to deploy robots at its U.S. facilities.
Tesla launched the first generation of its Optimus robot, nicknamed Bumblebee, in September 2022. And released a video this year showing a second-generation bipedal robot folding a T-shirt. This contrasts with the Boston Dynamics and Figure demonstrations. Which showed their robots performing tasks such as getting up from a lying position and making coffee.
Despite these promising developments, it is notable that Musk has sometimes failed to deliver on bold promises in the past. As evidenced by its prediction in 2019 that Tesla would operate a network of autonomous robotaxis by 2020. In any case, if there is a sale in 2025, it will initially be for companies.