Elon Musk first revealed the prototype for Tesla’s robot Optimus in September 2022. In a video Musk posted to X, the robot is seen slowly folding a black shirt, appearing to do so without help. However, Musk later clarified that this was not an autonomous action, and that Optimus “cannot yet do this autonomously, but certainly will be able to do this fully autonomously and in an arbitrary environment.”
Musk has shared previous videos of the Tesla robot performing various tasks, from yoga stretches to picking up an egg, with plans to utilize the same AI systems that power Tesla’s self-driving cars.
Despite Musk’s intentions to promote Optimus, online observers have expressed skepticism about the video, pointing out possible evidence of computer generation and remotely operated movements. Marques Brownlee, a popular tech YouTuber, and various users on Meta’s Threads have questioned whether the video was authentic or CGI, with many doubting the robot’s capabilities. However, there are still supporters and fans of Musk who have cheered on his robotic projects.
While Optimus is still a work in progress, Musk and Tesla will continue to develop the robot’s capabilities, aiming for full autonomy and operation in various environments.