Tesla, the renowned electric car manufacturer, has made waves with its plans to potentially release its Optimus humanoid robot next year. Led by tech mogul Elon Musk, the company unveiled the latest iteration of Optimus, known as “Optimus Gen 2,” several months ago. This new generation showcases significant advancements, addressing previous concerns and demonstrating the robot’s ability to perform repetitive tasks autonomously.
Tesla’s aspirations for Optimus are ambitious. The company believes that the humanoid robot can take over repetitive tasks currently performed by humans, particularly in manufacturing and other industrial settings. Leveraging its expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), batteries, and electric motors, Tesla aims to make Optimus an extension of its self-driving vehicle technology, effectively transferring its capabilities to a humanoid form.
Musk has expressed unwavering confidence in the project, asserting that “Optimus stuff is extremely underrated” and predicting that demand could reach 10 to 20 billion units. He has gone so far as to declare that Optimus will constitute “a majority of Tesla’s long-term value.” According to Musk, Optimus is already performing tasks within Tesla’s lab and is expected to be deployed in actual factories by the end of this year.
Tesla’s target market for Optimus extends beyond internal use. Musk envisions selling the robot to customers outside the company by the end of 2025, projecting its retail price to be “less than half of a car,” approximately $25,000.
Despite Tesla’s technological advancements, the company faces ongoing legal challenges, including allegations of racial discrimination at its Fremont factory. Additionally, Musk’s controversial behavior and political views have drawn criticism and raised concerns about their potential impact on Tesla’s reputation and business operations.
