Elon Musk Reveals Tesla's Optimus Robot Can't Fully Fold Shirts Autonomously Yet

A recent video posted by Elon Musk depicts Tesla's Optimus robot folding a shirt, sparking a debate over the authenticity of the robot's capability. The video, showing the robot independently handling the shirt, prompted Musk to clarify later that the robot has not yet achieved autonomous operation in such tasks.

Optimus' Manual Assistance

Soon after the video went live, skeptics began to voice their concerns over whether the scene was staged or if the robot was truly autonomous. Some pointed out brief glimpses of a gloved hand in the video, implying that the robot was being remotely controlled. Musk confirmed that while Optimus is not autonomous now, in the future, it will have this capability.

Optimus' Ambitious Vision

Tesla introduced Optimus in 2022, with a mission to handle tasks considered unsafe, repetitive, or dull, thereby streamlining Tesla's manufacturing and broadly automating physical labor. Musk has ambitions for the robot to eventually assist in personal household tasks and believes that it is integral to Tesla's growth, aiming to push the company's valuation to new heights.

Future Prospects for Optimus

While Tesla has yet to announce a pricing model or a specific release date for Optimus, Musk previously suggested that the cost might be under $20,000 and anticipates deliveries could start in the next few years. For now, Tesla remains silent on inquiries concerning the details of Optimus' capabilities following the video.

Tesla, Optimus, Musk