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But Elon Musk’s ambitions for the robot extend far beyond that.
Since introducing Optimus at a Tesla event in 2022, Musk has envisioned it becoming a major part of daily life, assisting people in their homes and shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
Alongside projects like self-driving robotaxis and the Cybertruck, Musk sees humanoid robots as a crucial element in Tesla’s long-term AI strategy.
Investors seem to share his confidence — approving his $1 trillion (£760 billion) pay package, which includes a goal of producing one million AI-powered robots within the next ten years.
Still, many wonder whether Tesla’s bold move into humanoid robotics is grounded in reality or still more of a sci-fi dream.
Huge Potential Ahead
The race for humanoid robots is heating up across Silicon Valley.
A recent Morgan Stanley report estimated that Apple — rumored to be exploring this technology — could generate as much as $133 billion annually from humanoid robots by 2040.
Foxconn is also said to be introducing them in its Nvidia facility in Texas.
The combination of advanced AI and a human-like body is powerful in concept, allowing machines to interact with the physical world — including humans — in a natural way.
While many robotics firms, such as the UK-based Humanoid, are focusing on industrial applications, others are already aiming to bring these robots into households.
For instance, Neo, a robot from tech company 1X set to debut in 2026, is designed to handle everyday chores like folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, and fetching objects.
Priced at $20,000, it reportedly still relies on human operators wearing virtual reality headsets to control it, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Analyst Brian Hopkins from Forrester notes that falling hardware costs, improved robotic dexterity, and more capable AI systems are making humanoid robots increasingly practical across multiple industries and environments.
“From warehouses and restaurants to elder care and security, new use cases are gaining traction fast,” he wrote in a blog post.
“If current trajectories hold, humanoid robots could disrupt many physical-service industries significantly by 2030.”
Musk has previously told investors that his humanoid robots could eventually become even more important than Tesla’s vehicle business.
Following the approval of his massive pay package on Thursday, he took that prediction even further — claiming the robots could become “the biggest product of all time — far bigger than cell phones or anything else.”
He also believes these robots will significantly advance Tesla’s artificial intelligence goals, especially in developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) — AI systems capable of performing tasks at the level of human intelligence.
“Tesla AI might play a role in AGI, given that it trains against the outside world, especially with the advent of Optimus,” he wrote on X in 2022.
In the wider robotics field, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot, Atlas, gained global attention through viral YouTube videos showcasing its impressive gymnastics, dancing, and acrobatic feats — including jumps, flips, and somersaults. These displays have highlighted how far robotics has advanced, especially now that researchers are leveraging the AI boom to make robots capable of handling increasingly complex tasks.
When Boston Dynamics retired Atlas last year, it introduced a new, fully electric version that developers said could twist and move its body in even more flexible ways.
However, not everyone in the robotics community supports the trend of designing robots to look like humans. Many experts argue there’s little practical reason for robots to have legs, as wheeled designs are more efficient and far simpler to build. Others point out that a robot doesn’t need a head to function effectively.
Yet, from a psychological standpoint, humans have always been drawn to humanoid forms — a fascination fueled by decades of science fiction. Characters like C-3PO from Star Wars, Bender from Futurama, and the Terminator have shaped how people imagine and emotionally connect with robots that resemble humans.
In reality, though, humanoid robots have historically fallen short of these expectations — often appearing awkward, unreliable, or purely experimental. But that is starting to change with newer models like Tesla’s Optimus, which bring a more polished and lifelike presence, narrowing the gap between fiction and reality.
Recently, Optimus has even been seen performing simple public-facing roles — such as serving burgers and popcorn at Tesla’s Hollywood diner.
Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commented in May that while he doesn’t believe the world is fully ready for humanoid robots, their arrival is inevitable. Despite his long-standing rivalry with Elon Musk, both men appear to agree on one thing — humanoids are coming, and Musk has the resources, influence, and determination to make that vision a reality.
