Optimus: Elon Musk’s humanoid robot goes viral
Elon Musk continues to showcase the growing abilities of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots, and his latest demonstration has gone viral. At the soft opening of the Tesla Diner and Supercharger station at 7001 W. Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Optimus impressed visitors with its human-like behavior.
The latest demonstration
In a video shared by Musk on X (formerly Twitter), an Optimus robot is seen politely serving popcorn to a customer. The robot holds a packet, fills it with two precise pours, and hands it over with a thumbs-up and a wave. While the process appears slightly slower than a human server, it is strikingly precise—no spills, no mistakes, and a delighted customer.
When asked where the video was filmed, Grok replied, “The Tesla Optimus robot is serving popcorn at the soft opening of the Tesla Diner and Supercharger station in Hollywood.” Musk added, “This will become normal in a few years,” reinforcing his vision of humanoid robots becoming a seamless part of everyday life.
What is Optimus?
The Optimus bot, introduced by Musk in 2021, is designed as a general-purpose companion capable of performing a wide array of tasks. From folding T-shirts and playing rock-paper-scissors to dancing and walking with human-like motion, Optimus has made steady progress. Musk envisions a near future where robots like Optimus can serve drinks, walk dogs, mow lawns, babysit children, and assist with countless household and commercial tasks.
Tesla’s robotics journey
Tesla’s foray into humanoid robotics has been ambitious but challenging. Initially announced as the Tesla Bot in 2021, later rebranded as Optimus, the project was slated for release in 2023 but experienced delays. In 2022, Tesla showcased a prototype capable of basic tasks such as object retrieval. During its first untethered public demonstration, Musk highlighted safety concerns, saying, “We didn’t want it to fall on its face.”
By mid-2024, Musk shared an updated roadmap indicating potential commercial sales of Optimus by 2026. However, at Tesla’s “We, Robot” event in October 2024, it became evident that the robots were still under development, with many requiring remote human operation for demonstrations.
Despite these hurdles, Tesla remains committed to advancing humanoid robotics. With every demonstration, Optimus inches closer to Musk’s vision of a future where robots are as integral to daily life as smartphones.
A glimpse into the future
The Optimus robot’s presence at the Tesla Diner opening is more than just a publicity stunt—it’s a preview of a world where intelligent machines might handle everyday tasks. While full autonomy is still on the horizon, Tesla’s continued innovations in robotics suggest that Musk’s dream of a robot-enabled lifestyle could become a reality sooner than we think.
