This week, Tesla surprised the technology world again when its humanoid robot, Optimus, flirted with the public during the unveiling of the company's robotic truck.
The robots wowed the audience by not only wandering through the audience, but also by speaking with a human-like accent, using modern slang, and incorporating verbal pauses as if they were a natural part of our daily lives.
It appears that Tesla is not only building robots to perform tasks, but is also creating characters that look as human as possible.
While the robots that mingled with the audience were actors, they demonstrated, according to the company, the potential capabilities of the robots that will soon be commercialized.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2024
During the event, Optimus emerged from a warehouse and moved into the crowd, displaying his ability to perform everyday tasks such as picking up a package from a balcony or watering plants. In addition, the new automated truck was unveiled.
“Optimus will walk among you,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said. “You'll be able to approach them, and they'll be able to offer you a drink.”
Musk promised that these robots can “do it all,” including walking the dog, babysitting, and mowing the lawn.
And the price? Musk stated that the robot will cost between $20,000 and $30,000.
Interact with people
But it's not just about practical abilities, Optimus knows how to make 'noise'.
After the presentation, videos emerged showing the robots interacting with guests, chatting around tables and playing party games. One of the robots even played rocks with visitors and distributed small gift bags. The most notable event came when many robots were seen dancing inside the gazebo, which increased the excitement of the event.
However, it should be noted that the robots seen in the videos were actors, only demonstrated the potential future capabilities of the robots, and were not performing actions autonomously.
Tesla first revealed plans for the humanoid Optimus robot in 2021, but at the time, it was widely seen as a joke when someone dressed as the robot danced on stage.
A year later, in 2022, Tesla unveiled a rudimentary prototype that walked gingerly across the stage. Since then, Optimus has undergone significant improvements, and the current model is lighter and faster, with capabilities that bring it closer to working alongside humans in everyday life.
Musk presented Optimus not just as a robot that would simplify everyday tasks but as technology that would change the world. According to him, “This will be the biggest revolution of any kind,” and he predicts that in the future when millions of units will be produced, it will greatly boost the global economy.
Musk went so far as to claim that robots could “eradicate poverty” because of the enormous benefits they could bring to improving labor productivity.
The current development status indicates that Optimus has already reached advanced stages. According to Musk's statements in April 2024, the robot is expected to begin performing “useful” tasks by the end of this year, and it is possible that it will be available to the foreign market as early as the end of 2025. This means that Tesla robots may soon become an integral part of Everyday life for many people.
As mentioned earlier, Musk estimates that the price will range between $20,000 and $30,000 in the long term. At this price, the robot could be accessible to a wide range of individual and corporate customers. Initially, its primary uses may focus on basic tasks such as cleaning, security, or domestic help. However, over time, the robot could also be integrated into more complex fields, such as medical assistance or education.
The future of Tesla showcased at the recent event is not only about technology, but also about how this technology integrates into everyday life. Humanoid robots, like Optimus, don't just perform practical tasks; Tesla has also invested equally in its look and sound. The goal is to create robots that sound natural in their interactions with humans, speak in accents close to human speech, include natural pauses, and use slang that sounds like something we would say.
If Tesla succeeds in seamlessly integrating Optimus into everyday life, we may be on the verge of a new era in which robots not only perform tasks but also become an integral part of human society in unprecedented ways.
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