Elon Musk: Tesla’s Optimus Lab Resembles ‘Westworld’

Elon Musk Highlights Similarities to 'Westworld'

During a recent Tesla earnings call, CEO Elon Musk drew parallels between the Optimus robot lab and the popular HBO series "Westworld." He stated that there is a "good chance" that some Optimus robots will be ready for delivery next year. Musk even shared a video on X showcasing one of the robots in the lab, folding a shirt.

Inviting 'Westworld' Creators for a Tour

Musk expressed his enthusiasm for the resemblance by inviting the creators of "Westworld" to visit the Optimus lab. However, Tesla executive Drew Baglino later clarified that "Westworld" was not the best reference point due to the show's portrayal of robots killing people.

Glimpses of the Optimus Lab

The video posted by Musk provided a first glimpse into the Optimus lab, featuring a robot folding a shirt. Additionally, the footage revealed other robots at various stages of production suspended in the air. Another video from last year, shared by Tesla on YouTube, showed a motor design engineer working on a robot in a warehouse-like space equipped with storage shelves for tools.

The Optimus Lab Team

While specific details about the Optimus lab remain scarce, Tesla's careers page indicated that the company was actively hiring for over 50 robotics positions, many of which were based in Palo Alto, California. The lab team comprises engineers, technicians, actuator designers, and robot design modelers.

Potential Timeline for Optimus

Musk mentioned during the earnings call that there is a good chance the company will begin shipping some units of Optimus next year. However, he acknowledged the uncertainties and challenges associated with venturing into uncharted territory and emphasized that regular progress updates on Optimus would be shared with the public.

Market Outlook for Tesla

Investors are eagerly awaiting positive news from Tesla, as the company's shares have experienced a 26% decline in 2024. Nevertheless, over the past five years, the stock has seen a substantial increase of 780%. Business Insider reached out to Tesla for comment, but no immediate response was received due to the inquiry being made outside normal working hours.

Original article: Business Insider

—————————————————————————————————————————————
By: jmann@insider.com (Jyoti Mann)
Title: Elon Musk: Tesla’s Optimus Lab Resembles ‘Westworld’
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-optimus-robot-lab-looks-like-westworld-2024-1
Published Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:33:37 +0000