#07 Tesla We, Robot

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Tesla: We, Robot

Elon Musk surprises us once again.

We, Robot – an event the entire tech world is buzzing about!

Since the echoes of Musk’s grand event still linger, I’m throwing in my two cents. But instead of rehashing what’s already been reported, let’s get real. I’m here to share my take and hold Tesla accountable for its promises.

I'll break this down into two parts. You're reading part one today, and the second part will drop this Wednesday!

No need to wait—let’s dive right in!

We know Tesla operates on a grand scale. And this event? No exception!

After teasing us with autonomous taxis and the Robovan, Elon Musk introduced another star: Optimus, the humanoid robot. He declared, “I think this will be the biggest product in history.” Bold statement, right?

That’s what I want to dig into today.

Question #1: Has Optimus' development really been that significant?

Musk mentioned that Tesla has made “significant progress” on Optimus but stayed vague on the timeline. Last April, he hinted it could be ready by 2025, with a “good chance” for units to hit the market by year-end. So, how far have they really come?

Let’s break it down.

Humanoid robots are essentially artificial intelligence in a physical shell. While the mechanics are fascinating, today's focus is the AI inside. Here are some undeniable facts:

• Fact #1: AI has extraordinary potential and can solve highly complex tasks, making our lives easier in many ways.

• Fact #2: AI still struggles to handle the messy, unpredictable world humans navigate daily.

Think about everyday interactions—shopping, a quick coffee run, casual chats with a neighbor. These aren’t simple, formulaic scenarios. They require adaptability and human intuition, which AI hasn’t yet mastered.

So, to answer the big question: Has Optimus truly made leaps forward? I’d argue no, not yet. We're moving incrementally, but the key challenge for embodied AI remains unsolved. I’m curious to see how—or if—Tesla will address this head-on.

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Question #2: What about the vision (and the price tag)?

Musk mentioned Optimus could retail for around $30,000—roughly the price of a good car. He also hinted the robot wouldn’t need expensive hardware. But here’s the catch:

Does that mean no LIDARs? They didn’t confirm anything, and I can’t help but wonder how they’ll manage massive data processing without some serious onboard computing power.

Let’s be real—processing vast amounts of visual data and making decisions in real time requires muscle. A mediocre computer won’t cut it.

So how does this promise of "affordable" align with the tech demands?

So many questions, so few answers. 😉

One thing’s for sure—we’re entering an exciting era of AI development, and all eyes are on the tech giants. Let’s just hope their promises aren’t empty!

That’s all for today.

Stay tuned—part two of my reflections drops this Wednesday.

Until then, have a great week!

Cheers,

Jacek