2022 Tesla AI Day: Humanoid Robot 'Optimus' Dances on Center Stage with Target Price Less Than $20,000

CALIFORNIA-Tesla's Chief Executive Elon Musk unveiled a prototype of a humanoid "Optimus" robot that integrates certain AI software and sensors with its cars' Autopilot driving assistance capabilities. Musk remarked at the opening of Tesla's 2022 AI Day announcement that Tesla had "a man in a suit" last year but promised something far more remarkable nowadays.

Tesla's prototype of the 125-pound (57kg) humanoid, also called "The Tesla Bot," was showcased on Friday at Tesla's annual AI Day. This same robot is meant to handle "dangerous, monotonous, or tedious activities," beginning on Tesla's manufacturing lines, as per Musk.

The droid shuffled out onto the stage, waved to the audience, and did several choreography before wheeling around and shuffling back the way it entered.

(Photo : REUTERS)
Initially, Optimus will perform boring or dangerous jobs, including moving parts around its factories, according to Musk.

Optimus' Initial Stage and Upcoming Developments

In a report stated from The Verge, according to Musk, the said prototype is capable of more than what has been demonstrated in the life, but "the first time it operated without a tether was tonight on stage." Musk projected it would cost "probably less than $20,000" and later revealed in a conversation that Tesla is very proficient at creating the same AI and actuators required for robotics based on its experience promoting drive units for electric vehicles (EVs). Musk stated that this might assist it in getting proficient robots into manufacturing and would begin by examining them inside Tesla's facilities.

"Our objective is to develop a functional humanoid robot as early as possible," Musk explained at the presentation, which took place at Tesla's Palo Alto, California headquarters. "A lot of effort has to be done to develop and prove Optimus," Musk added.

Based on a report from Forbes, manufacturing Optimus is a considerable time away, and it is unlikely to be available in stores by next year, as Musk had stated in 2021. He made no assurances about timing at this conference, just addressing it in the Q&A session. He added, nonetheless, that it would "cost less than a vehicle," which is a common and optimistic comment. Tesla's IT specialists then described how they may accomplish this.

Subsequently, their stage's rear doors opened to show a disassembled Optimus called "Bumble C," who stepped beyond and executed a "raise the ceiling" dance movement. Musk said that they wanted to keep it safe, not make too many moves on stage, and have it "fall short on its face."

(Photo : Tesla/Handout via REUTERS)
A humanoid robot developed by Tesla, known as Tesla Bot or Optimus, is shown in a frame grab from the live video of Tesla's AI Day streamed on August 20, 2022.

ALSO READ: Tesla AI Day 2022: Elon Musk Expected To Share More Details About Optimus During the Annual Event

Tesla's Bold Robotic Claim

When the Tesla team also showed out another prototype showcasing a "very near to production" variant of Optimus with all of its body entirely built but not fully functioning - it was put up on a platform and waved to the public, demonstrating the range of motion of its wrist and hand. Musk said that this machine (which was dragged out and finally rolled off by a team of employees) still has actuators, a battery pack, and everything else but "wasn't quite ready to walk."

The team disclosed that the first robot displayed was only six months old. They expect to "get this done within the next few months... or years," as they discuss the challenges of moving from the prototype to a workable design.

Musk already has advised Tesla's followers not to anticipate the prototype to resemble the shiny black-and-white picture initially exhibited at last year's event. But there has been no enthusiasm, with Musk dubbing the robot "the most important product improvement we're doing this year" and claiming that it would be "more substantial than the automotive industry over time."

Musk has stated that future uses may include culinary, gardening, or even "catgirl" sex companions, and that development could commence as early as next year.

Professionals in robotics advised against putting too much faith in Musk's statements in the days preceding up to AI Day. Several businesses are far further advanced in building robots that can move, run, and even leap, and none are claiming to be close to replacing human work, according to a report from The Guardian.

Tesla's past is riddled with fantastical concepts that never materialized, such as a solar-powered Supercharger network, battery swapping, or robotic snake-style chargers, so it's anyone's guess if a manufacturing Tesla Bot is going to see the light of the sun.