Elon Musk: Humanoid robot Tesla Optimus Bot is like a friend
Tesla boss Elon Musk sees Tesla's humanoid robot not only as an industrial robot, but also as a household robot. So it could also become a friend.
(Image: Tesla)
At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the tech jack-of-all-trades and Tesla boss Elon Musk spoke about Tesla's ambitions for the humanoid robot Tesla Optimus Bot. Musk said that the robot should be seen as a kind of friend.
"I think people will think of their personal Optimus robot as a kind of friend," said Musk, comparing the robot to R2-D2, the likeable robot from Star Wars. However, the Optimus Bot should by no means look like a human. That is not the plan at Tesla. It should simply "look good", he said.
The Tesla boss has thus identified a further area of application for his humanoid all-purpose robot. The Optimus Bot is initially to be used mainly in factories in work environments designed for humans, where it will perform dull, heavy work. Now the Optimus Bot, which is expected to cost around 20,000 US dollars, is also to be used as a personal robot - for example in the home. As a personal assistant in the household, it could take on various tasks, Musk continues. These include walking the dog, looking after children, cooking meals and playing the piano.
Musk believes that every person will have their own robot. In addition, humanoid robots will work in factories in various industries. The number of robots could therefore exceed the number of humans, Musk predicts. Of course, his opinion is biased; after all, he wants to sell his robots and attract investors.
Important product for Tesla
At Tesla's annual general meeting, Musk categorized the Optimus Bot as Tesla's most important product in the future. He is certain that the humanoid robot can help increase Tesla's value to such an extent that it will become the most valuable company in the world. Above all, Musk is counting on the Optimus Bot being used in factories to take over the work of humans. Tesla would generate around one trillion dollars a year with a market share of 10 percent alone, he said.
So far, however, the Optimus Bot is still in its infancy. In terms of hardware, Tesla has put a decent platform on the robot's legs. But currently there is still a problem with teaching the humanoid robot new tasks quickly and easily. This is a minimum requirement if the robot is to carry out different tasks in factories.
So far, the Optimus Bot's operational capability is still limited. Tesla has two of its humanoid robots in use in the company's own car production facility. There, they sort battery cells, which specialized industrial robots can do much faster.
Musk is planning to increase the use of the Optimus Bot in electric car production in 2025. At least 1000 of the robots will then be working in the Tesla plants. The first units could also be delivered to third parties in the near future. However, it remains unclear whether this ambitious goal can be achieved at all. The only thing that is clear is that Musk is obviously taking a multipronged approach and wants to make the Optimus Bot appealing not only to industry, but also to private users as a household robot.
(olb)