An AI human robot folding your clothes, cleaning up around the house, or even playing board games with the family? It might happen sooner than you think.
With production set to begin later this year, Tesla Robot Optimus is closer to reality than ever before. What does that mean for you, Tesla, and the future of robotics? More than meets the eye.
Here’s what we know so far about Elon Musk’s $10 trillion goal.
Tesla Robot Introduction
Optimus is a step in a slightly different direction for the EV manufacturing giant Tesla. From electric cars to AI humanoids, Elon Musk is only months away from releasing his first commercially available humanoid robot for sale. You read that right—an AI humanoid for your business or home.
Tesla Optimus was first announced in 2021 and has been updated twice since. Its current iteration, Gen 3, is the latest and greatest version and is in production with high hopes of a 2025 release.
The AI human robot will be a breath of fresh air for business owners and tech enthusiasts who need help at work or home. It has a sleek design that looks and moves much like a real person and may transform the way we handle everyday chores and manual labor. The human like robotics can assist with repetitive tasks that aren’t just boring—but can be outright dangerous.
What does all this mean for the future of Tesla? Elon Musk doesn’t just think of AI human robots as a novelty but a potential 10 Trillion enterprise.¹⁶
What Can Tesla Robot Do?
At Tesla’s We, Robot Event, a promotional video showed the AI human robot actively assisting a household as a sort of high-tech butler. The AI humanoid was seen watering plants, getting packages from the front door, and even playing games with the kids. We’ve also seen the robot perform manual labor, such as pouring beverages or working on an assembly line.
So far, Tesla Optimus has been seen doing typical human movements, such as:
- Walking
- Hiking
- Dancing
- Cleaning
These are all things we’d expect an Artificial Intelligence humanoid to do. But it’s not all that Elon envisions for Optimus.
Recent videos have shown some eyebrow-raising footage of the robot interacting with humans and even having conversations. Is the robot capable of being your friend? Ask 2 Chainz or Kim Kardashian, who both got to know the robot on a more personal level. Don’t believe us? Watch 2 Chainz talking to Tesla Optimus for yourself.
Spoiler: the robot can’t officially talk without tele-controlled operation yet. While Tesla Optimus has been seen talking, sources have confirmed that the voice was tele-controlled by Tesla staff.
It also has surprising body control. Elon Musk posted a video of the human-like robots allowing Optimus to climb up hills and walk on bumpy terrain with ease. Future robot Olympics may be around the corner.
We’re still learning new details about what the robot can and can’t do. That said, it’s anybody’s guess how many of them are walking around Tesla’s headquarters learning new skills.
What Will the Tesla Robot Be Able To Do in the Future?
While the voice technology is still not where Tesla wants it to be, Elon Musk believes that the potential is eye-opening. Not only will Tesla Optimus talk, but he thinks you may even be able to customize the voice and personality of the humanoid robot.
A walking, talking robot friend? Yes, and it’s closer than you’d think.
In the future, the Tesla Optimus Gen 3 is designed to:
- Help with chores around the house.
- Perform manual labor in different industries.
- Entertain guests and family members.
- Cook meals and clean up.
- Use tools like screwdrivers and hammers.
- Serve food and drinks.
- Recognize colors and shapes.
- Have conversations.
- Walk around and even dance!
While Tesla is still improving the technology, what we have seen so far at We, Robot and heard from Musk himself point to an exciting future with human-like robotics in businesses and homes. Not only will an AI humanoid perform simple tasks, but Musk believes it has the potential to do things as complex as being “able to play the piano and thread a needle.”
What Are the Production Plans?
AI human robots can’t be built overnight, right? Don’t be so sure. Details on the exact number of Tesla Optimus that have been built are still murky, but Elon Musk said he is hoping to manufacture 10,000 AI humanoids in 2025.
He plans to begin producing AI human robots for businesses as early as 2026, so you may want to get on the phone with the Tesla sales team sooner rather than later.
How Does Tesla Robot Work?
It’s easy to get caught up in the optics of an AI humanoid—it’s cool to see futuristic technology being used right now. But what’s inside that makes the human-like robotics tick? Tesla Optimus is powered by a rechargeable battery and a neural network that allows it to perform surprisingly human movements and actions.
AI technology inside the robot essentially makes Tesla Optimus a walking, talking computer. It can process information and perform tasks in a somewhat shockingly human manner.
The arms and legs can move around when sensors send signals to them. A combination of linear and rotary actuators produce the life-like movements of Tesla Optimus.
Tesla Optimus tech specs:
- Height: 5’8”
- Weight: 125 lbs
- Actuators: 28
- Maximum Lifting Capacity: 45 lbs
- Maximum Speed: 5 mph
- Internal Technology: AI used in Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system
Are Tesla Robots Controlled by Humans?
If you’ve seen the videos of a walking, talking AI robot, you’ve probably asked yourself whether or not the AI human robot is actually controlled by itself. The answer is yes and no.
Because it’s still early in its development, a lot of the more complex tasks and conversational components of the technology are remotely controlled by humans, as reported by Bloomberg Technology according to sources.
Still, some of its features are entirely AI-based and rely on the self-driving computer and actuators inside to perform manual labor or walk around.
What Will a Tesla Bot Cost?
If you are already planning to purchase a Tesla Optimus, you may want to temper your expectations.
While Elon Musk recently said the cost should be somewhere between $20-$30K, the official price hasn’t been released. But with a plan to produce 10,000 or more each year, this goal doesn’t seem so far-fetched. This price tag looks much cheaper than Figure AI’s Figure 02 robot.
A humanoid robot for sale? Not yet. If you see any websites offering to sell them now, don’t click that “buy” button. There are no official humanoid robots for sale by Tesla at this time. You can’t preorder a Tesla Optimus or Apptronik’s Apollo and there is no official release date or confirmed price for commercial sales.
Have Tesla Robots Ever Attacked Anyone
Time to address the robotic elephant in the room. Is it true that Optimus attacked a person? No.
While an AI humanoid conjures up happy-go-lucky imagery like having a robo-butler around the house, there’s a dark side to imagining what human-like robotics can do. Imagining an AI humanoid leads some to think of a world where robots can turn against people and maybe even take over the world. The good news? There haven’t been any indications of Optimus having a bad temper.
That’s not to say Tesla hasn’t had any incidents with robotics. A news story in 2021 reported that a Tesla worker was injured by a robot on the assembly line. While the injury did occur, it was the result of relatively standard equipment and not an AI humanoid robot like Optimus.
Is Elon Musk a Robot?
To create an AI human robot, does the technology’s DOGE Father himself need to be a robot? Absolutely not. Elon Musk is 100% human, although we do wonder how he finds the time to lead 6 of the most innovative companies in technology.
That said, Elon Musk is a robotics visionary who has an impressive portfolio of robotic technology, including self-driving cars and now an advanced artificial intelligence humanoid.
In Summary
The future of robotics is bright, and it’s not as far away as you’d think.
In fact, global robotics trends for 2025 already indicate that humanoid robots are performing single tasks in factories and other businesses efficiently. It is a relatively small industry today, at around 2 billion, but experts think that number could swell to as high as $218 billion by 2030.
Tesla Optimus isn’t the first AI human robot, but it’s the most celebrated. Though in the early innings of its development, it’s far ahead of the curve, led by one of technology’s greatest innovators in Elon Musk. His $10 trillion forecast of long-term value for Tesla Optimus may seem lofty, but when you think about the upside of having a robot assistant, friend, and colleague it might just be the beginning.