In early October in Silicon Valley, Elon Musk announced (and even invited it on stage) the humanoid robot “Optimus by Tesla.
The prototype, tall and slender like a human being, demonstrated some of its abilities, including watering a plant and delivering packages to offices. For now, it is a long way from being a complete product.
The news, if taken superficially, is not particularly interesting and indeed could not be called a breakthrough in technology. Musk is not the first entrepreneur to introduce a robot. Many companies have developed their models, and some seem to be years ahead of the TESLA patron’s new proposal.
However, the hype is about more than just the robot’s creation. The sensational aspect is Elon Musk’s promise. It is not just a promise but a sudden leap into the future. The South African entrepreneur said the prototype will be available to individuals in the next few years and cost around $20,000.
The project is about something other than creating machines for use in an industrial setting, as that market already has a lot of competition. Boston Dynamics’ robots are already far ahead and benefit from nearly a decade of development). TESLA plans to create a robot for a broader user base: for civilian and family use.
This approach makes Elon Musk’s idea revolutionary for the target audience that “Optimus” has in its sights. If he can deliver on his promise, these robots could, in less than a decade, take on the perceived value of a car.
This is a starting point ahead of the path taken by technology. Many of us believed that the age of robots was still decades away, but instead, the CEO of TESLA is compressing the future a few years from now.
Elon Musk is changing the world, and, for good or bad, we have come to understand that when he speaks, when he makes seemingly impossible or hardly credible statements, it is best to take them seriously and be prepared.
One must avoid the mistake always made before significant turning points in the technology field. No one remembers, but without going far, the first iPhone was ridiculed for its interface and high cost.
Because cell phones had too solid a market to make room for progress, Steve Jobs did not simply take a space from the market. He scaled it down and shaped it to such an extent that he forced a technological leap for everyone.
As a result, many companies went bankrupt or redesigned themselves to compete.
We must note that the future is pressing and that, ten years from now, the laundry or dishwasher will be done by an android named “Optimus,” developed and customized for us. In addition, Musk argues that the robot could also be helpful in industries where labor is lacking.
With a proven production line (Tesla) applicable for these products, the future may come sooner than expected.
(This content originally appeared on our House Organ “Informapiù – Lavoropiù Spa”)
