Optimus – Elon Musk’s humanoid robot first revealed to the public: Capable of “doing everything”, priced from 20,000 to 30,000 USD

Elon Musk expects Optimus “to have a profound impact on civilization.”

At the Cybercab event, Elon Musk debuted both the new Robovan and the humanoid robot Optimus, demonstrating Tesla’s latest advances in robotics. The Optimus robots performed simple tasks like holding cups of water and delivering gift bags, with some even playing rock-paper-scissors with guests.

While their movements and tasks are somewhat limited, Musk emphasizes the robots’ potential, claiming they could perform many human tasks like walking dogs, mowing lawns, and even serving drinks.

Musk describes the Optimus robot as being capable of “doing everything” and predicts that these robots will sell for between $20,000 and $30,000. He believes that the product will have a profound impact on civilization, with Optimus robots being able to contribute greatly to economic growth and be produced in large numbers — millions of units.

These robots have come a long way since their initial debut in 2021, when just a human wearing a robot suit appeared on stage. Tesla has since continued to improve, including releasing a lighter and faster Gen 2 version in 2023. Musk’s ultimate vision is to mass-produce Optimus, helping to create a world free of poverty through massive increases in labor productivity.

Although the robots at the event did not perform complex actions like walking a dog or babysitting, the demonstration was intended to highlight their potential in the future.

This marks another bold step forward in Tesla’s ambitions to reshape automation and robotics in both the personal and industrial spheres, with Musk reaffirming that the product could revolutionize the global economy.