Tesla’s AI-powered humanoid robot, Optimus, is expected to be available to the public by the end of 2027, CEO Elon Musk announced. Designed to perform a wide range of tasks from factory work to household chores, the robot could cost as little as $20,000 each, according to Musk. The announcement was made during Tesla’s July shareholder meeting and reiterated at the World Economic Forum in January.
Optimus has been showcased performing various activities such as dancing, passing popcorn, vacuuming, and pressing microwave buttons, though it has also struggled with tasks like ironing and maintaining balance. Musk envisions the robot eventually achieving human and superhuman dexterity. The robot’s development reflects Tesla’s ambition to automate nearly all human labor, from industrial tasks like hauling sheet metal to domestic chores like folding laundry.
The push for humanoid robots aligns with broader industry interest in robotics as a transformative sector. Marc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz has described robotics as potentially the largest industry ever, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicted humanoid robots would soon match human-level ability. Despite current limitations, these developments highlight growing investment and optimism in AI-driven robotics.
Tesla’s timeline targets public availability of Optimus by the end of 2027, with the robot priced around $20,000 each. This milestone will be closely watched as a test of AI and robotics integration into everyday labor and consumer markets, according to technologyreview.com.