At the WeRobot event, all eyes were on the highly anticipated Tesla Cyber Car. However, the spotlight shifted when Elon Musk took the stage to reveal something even more groundbreaking: Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus. Musk claimed that Optimus can perform virtually any task. “The Optimus will walk among you,” Musk declared. “You’ll be able to approach them, and they’ll serve drinks.” He further speculated that these robots would come with an affordable price tag, ranging between $20,000 and $30,000.

Confidently, Musk went on to say, “I believe this will be the most important product ever created.” He added, “I can see a future where every person on Earth will want an Optimus in their homes.” According to Musk, these robots are poised to revolutionize the world more profoundly than ever before. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk emphasized how the Gen 2 version of Optimus features improved walking speed, enhanced hand dexterity, tactile sensors on its fingers, and many other significant upgrades.

Earlier this year, Musk shared a video on X showing Optimus demonstrating its newfound ability to fold shirts. In the clip, the robot neatly picked a shirt from a basket and folded it with precision on a table. The post was simply captioned, “Optimus folds a shirt.” Tesla first introduced the concept of the Optimus robot, also known as the Tesla Bot, during their AI Day in 2021. The goal behind this innovation was to build a versatile machine capable of taking over dangerous, monotonous, or repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on more meaningful work. The latest demonstration at WeRobot highlighted just how far the Gen 2 model has come, signaling another milestone in its evolution.

However, not everyone is convinced. While excitement for the robot’s capabilities continues to grow, so do fears about the potential negative impact on society. Many have voiced their concerns through social media, warning that robots like Optimus could lead to job loss and pose safety risks. The debate around the role of robots in the future of work remains a hot topic as technology continues to advance.