Featured Image Credit: Marc Piasecki/VCG/VCG via Getty Images
Elon Musk has made a chilling announcement about Tesla after revealing that his company will begin the production of humanoid robots.
The billionaire unveiled his plans to start work on the robots as early as next year and they will be available for mass purchase.
Straight out of a sci-fi horror film, the robots will be designed as a new workforce to serve humans and carry out tasks.
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The Tesla Optimus Gen 2 is also known as the Tesla Bot was first announced in 2021 and a prototype was displayed in 2022.
Now, it seems that the mogul is ready to take on the next step after he recently shared a production timeline.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Musk posted: “Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026.”
Low production will start at just over a thousand, with the potential of a few thousand to begin with but Musk predicts that there will soon be around 20 billion humanoid robots working in companies and homes.
This is down to the idea that every person in the world will need at least two robots and more will be required for manufacturing work.
If that isn’t terrifying enough, there are currently two humanoid Tesla robots already working in a factory where they are able to perform tasks autonomously.
Who knows where the future of the Tesla Bots will go but so far the plan is that they will perform useful but unskilled tasks.
Optimus is able to recognise real-world objects thanks to Tesla's incorporation of the same technology that's in its electric vehicle Autopilot feature.
Of course, Musk has his sights set on the robots becoming more and more intelligent, with the hopes that they will eventually be able to take on more complicated roles - even babysitting your kids.
The billionaire wants the bot to become an assistant, foreseeing a friendly side to Optimus, somewhat similar to a pet or Star Wars' R2D2 or C3PO.
He imagines that it could be a useful companion for everyday owners in their home, helping the family with tasks and errands such as fixing the car or helping to get groceries from the shop.
Of course, if you want a Tesla robot for yourself, it’ll come at a hefty price. While the official cost is not yet known, it’s estimated that they will be priced at around $20,000.
