Tesla’s Optimus:

The future of robots or just another sales pitch?

By SAMANTHA KELLY

Wealth of Geeks

Elon Musk is no stranger to grand unveilings, but he took it to a new level last week with Tesla’s latest showcase that heavily focused on its Optimus humanoid robots.

At an event _ttingly held on a Hollywood stage, Musk revealed few speci_cs about Tesla’s plans to improve its full self-driving technology for its so-called “Cybercab” and bring complex humanoid robots to the home. His air for dramatic statements was fully displayed, particularly when claiming these large, free-standing Optimus robots will become “the biggest product of any kind.”

“It can be a teacher, babysit your kids, walk your dog … Whatever you can think of,” Musk states.

Tesla’s vision for Optimus robots

The presentation featured sixfoot robots dancing in unison, cracking jokes with attendees, and serving cocktails. But for anyone who watched the presentation play out on social media, it was evident teleoperators partially controlled the robots, blending both innovative robots and remote puppeteering. According to Bloomberg, humans were, in fact, responsible for their movements and speech, not arti_cial intelligence. Tesla’s stock price dropped 7.8 percent following the event.

One of the most noticeable tells was how quickly robots responded to attendees – as if large-language models powered them with nearly zero latency. Experts like George Chowdhury, the robotics lead at ABI Research, were skeptical. “If Tesla had large-language models this responsive, humanoid robots would not be their primary go-to market,” he explains to Wealth of Geeks.

Although existing AI systems like ChatGPT allow for back-and-forth interaction, it’s deceptive to suggest Tesla’s robots could engage in the kind of seamless conversations seen at the event, at least right now, Chowdhury adds.

Skepticism and challenges facing Tesla’s robotics

Musk’s latest unveiling comes when he faces increasing scrutiny for spreading misinformation on his X platform, formerly known as Twitter. He’s also made bold promises that often outpace the progress of his companies’ technologies.

Although the robots could balance and walk, they showed no sign of being able to perform tasks that people may expect from a home assistant. After all, some of the most advanced AI and robotic systems struggle with basic real-world tasks.

Despite this, Musk did what he does best: sell a vision. He teased a starting price of $20,000, a seemingly accessible cost for such advanced technology, similar to the cost of a car. Of course, the margins and feasibility of delivering a robot at that price point raise questions. Although Tesla is known for developing ef_cient motors and gears, the software needed to power these robots could also lag behind the promise.

Challenges facing humanoid robots in everyday life

It also raises the question of whether people would ever want a robot like this in the home. Where would you even put a large humanlike robot while you sleep? The couch? Its own bed? Ken Goldberg, a professor of industrial engineering at UC Berkeley, suggested Optimus could appeal to certain demographics, especially retirees with _nancial means and potential to bene_t from a robot assistant.

“I don’t see them replacing human workers anytime soon because workers have so many nuances to what they do,” Goldberg said. “Any blue-collar job requires dexterity – whether it’s kitchen workers, gardeners, or construction laborers. In the home, however, they could make the bed or fold laundry, which could provide hope for senior citizens. But we haven’t seen that potential realized yet.”

Aside from functionality, safety is another concern. “On two legs, robots are stable, but if they fall, it’s not good,” Goldberg said. “They’re heavy with a lot of motors, and that could cause serious harm.”

Still, fears about robots replacing human jobs remain. As recent strikes at U.S. ports show, workers are concerned about the growing automation of labor. But robots already work alongside humans in collaborative roles, especially in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Startups and major companies like NVIDIA look to integrate robots in various areas, from hospitals to restaurants.

Broader issues are also at play, including the need for government regulation and more money needed to be spent on the development of this type of robotics and AI.

“To be trusted, humanoid robots need to be better than humans,” Chowdhury said. “They can’t afford to make mistakes – this is an impossibly high standard.”

He added that issues around autonomous vehicles serve as a cautionary tale, highlighting the gap between AI’s promise and its real-world performance.

Ultimately, the road to widespread in-home use of humanoid robots is long and full of challenges. In its current state, technical limitations will undoubtedly impede hype and early excitement around this type of technology. Until those advancements more closely align with Musk’s vision, we won’t likely have robot roommates anytime soon.

Photo from Wealth of Geeks