Elon Musk said that Tesla will receive anthropomorphic Optimus robots for internal use next year, and plans to start selling them to other companies by 2026. In a post on the social network X, Musk said that at the first stage the robots will be produced in limited quantities.
Image Source: Tesla
Despite Musk’s ambitious plans, his previous promises have not always come true. For example, in 2019 he announced the launch of a robotaxi service by 2020, but this project has not yet been implemented. Last week it became known that the presentation of the robotaxi was postponed due to design changes. And the production of Optimus robots was actually planned to start by the end of 2024, and not later, notes Reuters.
Robots are being developed to solve the problem of labor shortages and performing monotonous tasks in production. These robots could become indispensable in areas such as logistics, warehousing and manufacturing, performing functions that are considered dangerous or labor-intensive for humans. At the same time, competition in this area is growing, and companies such as Honda and Boston Dynamics are actively working to create similar technologies.
Interestingly, the announcement took place just a day before the publication of Tesla’s quarterly report, which is expected to show a decline in profits. Analysts believe that against the backdrop of falling demand for electric vehicles, Musk is trying to draw attention to other company projects, such as robots and self-driving cars, with his statements.
It is also noted that given the fall in demand for electric vehicles, which account for more than 80% of Tesla’s revenue, Musk is increasingly focusing on artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software and the development of robotaxis. The company’s second-quarter results are due Tuesday, but Wall Street’s margin expectations remain low, at the lowest level in five years.