Elon Musk presents the famous human-like robot "Optimus", but explains that it is not ready yet
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday demonstrated a prototype of the humanoid robot Optimus, predicting that the electric car maker could make millions of it and sell it for less than $20,000.
"There is still a lot of work to be done to improve and prove Optimus," Musk said during the "Artificial Intelligence Day" event at Tesla's office in Palo Alto, California, where the robot was displayed.
Tesla said a prototype of the robot was developed in February and that model walked on stage and waved to spectators on Friday. Tesla showed a video of the robot performing simple tasks such as carrying boxes, watering plants and lifting metal rods at a production station at the company's factory in California.
The team demonstrated its most streamlined, current-generation robot on a buggy and Musk said he hoped it could walk on its own soon.
He said existing robots "lack a brain" and the ability to solve problems on their own. By contrast, he said, Optimus would be a "very ingenious robot" that Tesla aims to produce in the millions. He said he expected it to cost less than $20,000.
Musk and Tesla representatives acknowledged that a lot of work needed to be done to achieve the company's goal of mass-producing a robot at low cost using Tesla-designed technology that would be able to replace humans at work.
The billionaire said Tesla's robotics business would be more valuable than its cars, hoping to expand beyond self-driving cars that have yet to become a reality despite his repeated promises.
In the future, Musk said, robots could be used in homes, prepare dinners, mow the lawn, care for the elderly, and even become "buddies" for humans.
