Musk demonstrates the potential of Optimus, humanoids performing human tasks

There is a time for everything. Between spreading conspiracy theories and dancing like a 53-year-old at Donald Trump rallies, Elon Musk found a gap in his agenda Thursday night to fix his long-broken promise to unveil his 100% autonomous, steering-wheel-less Tesla prototype. and without pedals, with which it will launch its robotaxi offering.

The event, held at a Hollywood film studio, showcased the splendor of a cybercab (taxi in English), as well as a surprise robot car that could seat twenty people.

One of the androids was handing out gifts, others were trying to serve drinks, and a third was playing rock, paper, scissors.

However, the big surprise was the guests who stole all the plans. “Optimus” burst into the Californian night , what an entrepreneur calls his humanoid robots like they escaped from a movie set star wars . A tweet from Tesla highlighted the similarities. “Optimus is your personal R2D2 or C3P0 (characters from the George Lucas saga), but better. It will also change physical work in industrial settings,” the company said.

A group of the latest versions of these androids came onto the scene along with Robovan and the video shows them performing everyday human tasks, such as delivering a package from the door and watering plants.

“Optimus will walk among you,” Elon Musk predicts during the presentation of Tesla androids and robotaxis

“Optimus will walk among you,” the presenter emphasized to those in attendance and those following the event on social network X. “You can approach them and they will bring you drinks,” he added. Musk explained that they would be able to do virtually “anything,” and mentioned everything from “walking the dog, taking care of the kids, or mowing the lawn,” he noted.

“This will be the largest product ever created,” he boasted. “This will change civilization,” he emphasized.

It will cost between $20,000 and $30,000 “long term.” Last April, he assured that these robots could go on sale late next year.

Optimus When Musk unveiled the project in 2021, it was ridiculed for not being serious. A man dressed as a robot performed a dance that was described as stupid. But in 2022, the company unveiled a rudimentary prototype that walked gingerly across the stage.

The night before, after the presentation, live images showed the androids interacting with people at tables and in the crowd. They didn’t really do anything other than say hello. There was a shelf with drinks, but all the robots did was hold glasses with ice. One of the service members was seen handing out small gift bags to the guests, while another was seen playing rock, paper, scissors with the guests. And there was an enclosed gazebo where several people danced to the rhythm what is love from Haddaway.

His show slightly sidestepped the presentation of the Cybercab, a two-door car that opens up like a butterfly’s wings, with a pair of seats and a starting price of under $30,000. It will operate without oversight, meaning regulatory approval will be required.

Their plan consists of a robotaxi fleet where vehicle owners can get the most out of their vehicles by providing this service to them while they sleep.

Musk did not give a date for its appearance. He only said that they could be put into production before 2027. This lack of specificity has prompted a clear reaction on Wall Street: disappointment. Tesla’s stock price plummeted and the company lost $50 billion in market value.

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