Tesla CEO Elon Musk is also developing humanoid robots, predicts that these advanced machines could hit the consumer market as early as late 2027.
According to AFP, Musk made this claim at the 56th annual World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22. During a conversation with Larry Fink, BlackRock Chairman and temporary WEF co-chair, Musk stated that Tesla aims to make humanoid robots available to the general public by the end of next year.
Musk revealed that Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, is already performing basic tasks in their factories. He expressed confidence that by year’s end, it would be capable of more complex operations. Musk added that public sales would commence once they are certain of the robot’s high reliability, safety, and high range of utility.
Musk emphasized that robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are pathways to universal prosperity, asserting these technologies as the sole solution to global poverty. He predicted that robotics would catalyze explosive growth in the world economy, enabling mass production of robots that could eventually outnumber humans.
Musk, who heads both Tesla and the AI firm xAI, first unveiled Optimus at a 2021 AI event. On September 2 last year, he posted on X, “Optimus could account for up to 80% of Tesla’s future value.”
Recently, Musk has shifted focus from electric vehicles to AI and robot development, particularly improving Tesla’s AI-driven autonomous driving software, FSD. Last January, he claimed, “No company does real-world AI better than Tesla,” predicting that investments in AI and robotics would yield “enormous returns” in the future. During Tesla’s earnings call last July, Musk projected annual Optimus production to reach 1 million units within five years.
On January 22, Musk also shared his expectations for FSD regulatory approval in Europe next month, with China potentially following suit. He predicted the emergence of AI models surpassing human intelligence by year-end or early next year. Looking further ahead, Musk speculated that by 2030 or 2031 – roughly five years from now – AI could be smarter than all of humanity combined.
