Optimus (robot)

On April 7, 2022, a display for the product was featured at the Tesla Giga Texas manufacturing facility during the Cyber Rodeo event. Musk said that he hoped to have the robot production ready by 2023 and claimed Optimus will eventually be able to do "anything that humans don’t want to do."

In June 2022, Musk announced the first prototype that Tesla hoped to unveil later in 2022 at the second AI Day event and stated on Twitter that it would not look anything like the model displayed at the Cyber Rodeo event.{{citation|title=Will the Optimus prototype look the same (or at least very similar) to the display model at the Giga Texas opening?|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1532722798917046275|date=2022-06-03|access-date=5 Mar 2024}}

In September 2022, semi-functional prototypes of Optimus were displayed at Tesla's second AI Day.{{Cite web |title=Tesla Optimus Robot - A mechanics deep dive - The Good The Bad and The Ugly|url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/willyjackson_humanoidrobot-teslabot-optimus-activity-6981994999450116096-Nfax |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en-gb|last=Jackson|first=Will|author-link=}}{{Cite news |date=2022-10-01 |title=Tesla boss Elon Musk presents humanoid robot Optimus |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63100636 |access-date=2022-10-01}} One prototype was able to walk about the stage and another, sleeker version could move its arms.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=2022-10-01 |title=Tesla shows off unfinished humanoid robot prototypes at AI Day 2022 |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/09/tesla-shows-off-underwhelming-human-robot-prototype-at-ai-day-2022/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |title=Tesla |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/30/elon-musk-shows-off-humanoid-robot-prototype-at-tesla-ai-day.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=CNBC |date=October 2022 |language=en}}

In September 2023, Tesla released a video of Optimus demonstrating how it could perform new activities including sorting colored blocks by color, locate its limbs in space, and had increased flexibility as it could maintain a yoga pose.{{cite AV media |title=Tesla Bot {{!}} Update Sort And Stretch |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=D2vj0WcvH5c |access-date=2024-12-22 |via=YouTube}}

In December 2023, Musk's X page released a video titled "Optimus" in which it shows Optimus Generation 2 walking and showing new features, such as dancing and poaching an egg.{{Cite web|title=Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 robot is faster, handier, and can dance too |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/teslas-optimus-gen-2-robot-is-faster-handier-and-can-dance-too-18557121.htm |website=CNBC|date=December 13, 2023 }}{{Cite web|title=Tesla shows off new Optimus robot poaching an egg |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/tesla-robot-optimus-bot-eggs-b2463175.html |website=The Independent, UK|date=December 13, 2023 }} The Optimus Generation 2 features a slimmer figure with improved hands and movements.{{Cite news|title=Tesla Shows Off Optimus Gen 2 Robot With Improved Hands, Slimmer Figure |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-13/tesla-optimus-gen-2-new-video-shows-dancing-robot-better-movement-updates |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=December 13, 2023 }} In May 2024, a Twitter update shared Optimus performing various tasks at a Tesla factory.{{Cite web |date=4 May 2024 |title=Trying to be useful lately! |url=https://twitter.com/Tesla_Optimus/status/1787027808436330505 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=Twitter}}

Critics pointed out that the robots in the promotional videos required the use of teleoperation in order to perform some of the tasks.{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Kali |title=Elon Musk's latest Tesla robot video shows it folding a shirt, but some viewers were quick to question how the video was made |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/reactions-tesla-robot-folding-shirt-question-video-real-2024-1 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Competitors produced their own videos in response highlighting how their robotic humanoids could complete similar tasks autonomously.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-14 |title=This New Robot Is So Far Ahead of Elon Musk's Optimus That It's Almost Embarrassing |url=https://gizmodo.com/openai-figure-01-robot-video-tesla-optimus-embarrassing-1851334166 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Novak |first=Matt |date=2024-05-05 |title=Tesla's Optimus video flub has other robot makers assuring us their robots are legit |url=https://qz.com/robot-legit-elon-musk-fake-optimus-tesla-demo-astribot-1851457009 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Quartz}}

In June 2024, Musk claimed that Optimus would enter limited production in 2025, with plans for over 1,000 to be used in Tesla facilities and the possibility of production for other companies in 2026.{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=2024-06-13 |title=Tesla shareholders vote to reinstate Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/tesla-shareholder-elon-musk-pay-package-at-annual-meeting.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Musk |first=Elon |date=22 July 2024 |title=Elon Musk X |url=https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1815329637188202550 |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=X}}

Optimus was featured at Tesla's "We, Robot" event in October 2024. While many praised the interactive demonstrations, critics again pointed out that the robots mainly utilized teleoperation to interact with crowds; Tesla was also criticized for not being transparent about this.{{Cite web |last=Franzen |first=Carl |date=2024-10-11 |title=Tesla’s big ‘We, Robot’ event criticized for ‘parlor tricks’ and vague timelines for robots, Cybercab, Robovan |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/teslas-big-we-robot-event-criticized-for-parlor-tricks-and-vague-timelines-for-robots-cybercab-robovan/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} Musk said that Optimus would be able to perform a wide range of everyday tasks in and outside of the home, and he estimated that the robot would be available for purchase at around US$30,000.{{Cite web |last=Shakir |first=Umar |date=2024-10-11 |title=Tesla’s Optimus bot makes a scene at the robotaxi event |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/10/24267225/tesla-robotaxi-optimus-we-robot |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

In March 2025 Elon Musk announced that an Optimus robot would be sent to Mars in 2026 onboard a SpaceX Starship rocket.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g88y52y8o |title=Musk says first mission to Mars will launch next year |first=Seher |last=Asaf |work=BBC News |location=UK |date=2025-03-15 |access-date=2025-03-19}}

File:Ambassador Burns speaks to a woman in front of a robot.jpg

Optimus is planned to measure {{cvt|5|ft|8|in|cm}} tall and weigh {{Cvt|125|lbs}}. According to the presentation made during the 2021 AI Day event, Optimus will be "controlled by the same AI system Tesla is developing for the advanced driver-assistance system used in its cars" and have a carrying capacity of {{Cvt|45|lbs}}.{{Cite web|title=Tesla Bot: AI-controlled humanoid robot revealed|url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1133301_tesla-bot-ai-controlled-humanoid-robot-revealed|access-date=2021-08-20|website=Motor Authority|date=August 20, 2021 |language=en}} Proposed tasks for Optimus are ones that are "dangerous, repetitive and boring", such as providing manufacturing assistance.{{Cite magazine|title=Tesla Promised a Robot. Was It Just a Recruiting Pitch?|language=en-US|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-promised-robot-recruiting-pitch/|access-date=2021-08-27|issn=1059-1028}}

In 2023, the hands of the Generation 2 Optimus had 11 degrees of freedom.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Tesla's latest Optimus robot can handle an egg without breaking it |url=https://www.engadget.com/teslas-latest-optimus-robot-can-handle-an-egg-without-breaking-it-154610781.html |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}

File:Robo-dancing dance dance revolution.jpg

Soon after the 2021 AI Day event, many publications reacted with skepticism about the proposed product. Bloomberg News claimed that such a product constituted "mission creep" and stood outside "the company’s clean-energy initiatives."{{Cite web|last=Hull|first=Dana|date=August 19, 2021|title=Elon Musk Unveils Humanoid Robot to Take Over 'Boring' Work|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-20/tesla-s-musk-unveils-humanoid-robot-to-take-over-boring-work|access-date=2021-08-20|website=www.bloomberg.com}} The Washington Post argued that "Tesla has a history of exaggerating timelines and overpromising at its product unveilings and investor presentations." The Verge similarly noted that "Tesla’s history is littered with fanciful ideas that never panned out... it’s anyone’s guess as to whether a working Tesla Bot will ever see the light of day"{{Cite web|last=O'Kane|first=Sean|date=2021-08-19|title=Elon Musk says Tesla is working on humanoid robots|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/19/22633514/tesla-robot-prototype-elon-musk-humanoid-ai-day|access-date=2021-08-20|website=The Verge|language=en}} and, in an editorial, described the Optimus reveal as a "bizarre and brilliant bit of tomfoolery".{{Cite web|last=Vincent|first=James|date=2021-08-20|title=Don't overthink it: Elon Musk's Tesla Bot is a joke|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/20/22633958/tesla-bot-elon-musk-ai-day|access-date=2021-08-20|website=The Verge|language=en}}

The progress made with the prototypes shown at the 2022 AI Day was praised by some commentators.{{Cite news |last=Jin |first=Hyunjoo |date=2022-10-01 |title=Tesla's robot waves but can't walk, yet. Musk plans to make millions of them |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-set-showcase-teslas-humanoid-robot-after-delay-2022-09-30/ |access-date=2022-10-01}} Other commentators stipulated that all that was shown in these latest presentations had already been accomplished by other robotics programs,{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Tesla Optimus robot walks, waves, but didn't impress in demonstration |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/10/01/tesla-robot-walks-waves-but-doesnt-show-off-complex-tasks/ |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}} and that there appears to be little to suggest Tesla could "outpace other companies working on similar things."{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=For Better or Worse, Tesla Bot Is Exactly What We Expected |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/tesla-optimus-robot |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=IEEE Spectrum |language=en}}

In a 2024 essay, Robert Silverberg suggested that Optimus Generation 2 was the realization of the "humanoids" in Jack Williamson's classic 1947 science fiction story "With Folded Hands..." ("probably the best story ever written about robots" according to Silverberg), along with their worst drawbacks.{{cite journal |last=Silverberg |first=Robert |url=https://www.asimovs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Reflections_With-Folded-Hands_NovDec24.pdf |title=Reflections: With Folded Hands..." |journal=Asimov's Science Fiction |issue=November/December 2024 |pages=7-9}}

Reactions across the robotics community to Optimus and its prototypes have been "diverse", with some experts commending the venture while describing early demonstrations as less than impressive.{{Cite web |title=What Robotics Experts Think of Tesla's Optimus Robot - IEEE Spectrum |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics-experts-tesla-bot-optimus |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=IEEE |language=en}}

Carl Berry, a lecturer of robotics engineering, described the 2021 AI Day presentation as "the usual overblown hype." Following the Optimus display at the Cyber Rodeo event, researcher Gary Marcus stated he would "bet that no robot will be able to do all human tasks by the end of 2023."

Regarding the 2022 AI Day presentation, Deutsche Welle cited experts – AI researcher Filip Piekniewski, robotics expert Cynthia Yeung, and executive director of Mass Robotics Tom Ryden – calling the project a "complete and utter scam", questioning how advanced it really was, and criticizing the choice of a humanoid form.{{cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Tesla AI robot: Musk's new humanoid disappoints experts |url=https://www.dw.com/en/tesla-ai-robot-musks-new-humanoid-disappoints-experts/a-63304724 |access-date=1 October 2022 |website=dw.com |publisher=DW}}

Optimus is named after the main character in the Transformers media series, Optimus Prime.{{Cite news |last=Jin |first=Hyunjoo |date=20 September 2022 |title=Focus: Elon Musk faces skeptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil 'Optimus' robot |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/elon-musk-faces-skeptics-tesla-gets-ready-unveil-optimus-robot-2022-09-20/ |agency=Reuters}}{{Cite web |last=Bouzaroita |first=Majda |date=17 January 2024 |title=Elon Musk's Optimus Steps into the Spotlight |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/01/360195/elon-musk-s-optimus-steps-into-the-spotlight |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}}

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