Tesla boss Elon Musk says the electric car maker will start producing and using humanoid robots from next year.
In a social media post, Mr Musk said the robots will first be used by Tesla, which will start making them to sell in 2026.
The announcement came as the technology billionaire has been pushing to cut costs at Tesla in the face of weakening demand for its cars.
On Tuesday, the company reported that profits had dropped by nearly half for the three months to the end of June, falling from $2.7bn (£2.09bn) to less than $1.5bn (£1.16bn), as a sales slump weighed on the bottom line.
"Overall, our focus remains on company-wide cost reduction," the company said on Tuesday in an update for investors.
Tesla said its automotive revenue fell 7% year-on-year in the quarter, despite a flurry of price cuts and other incentives aimed at enticing customers.
It still eked out an overall revenue rise of 2%, thanks to growth in its energy storage business.
Tesla's shares fell by almost 8% in after-hours trading.
Mr Musk's businesses have been increasingly focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and robots at a time of slowing demand for electric vehicles.
Mr Musk had previously said he expected the robot, called Optimus, to be ready for use in Tesla factories by the end of this year.
"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," Mr Musk said on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Other firms, including Honda and Boston Dynamics, have also been developing their own humanoid robots.
Tesla has said it aims to build an "autonomous humanoid robot" to perform "unsafe, repetitive or boring tasks."
Mr Musk has previously said Tesla aimed for the robots to be mass produced and cost less than $20,000 (£17,900) each.
He is known for setting ambitious timelines for his companies, which he has not always met.
In 2019, he said he felt "very confident" Tesla would have self-driving taxis on the road by the following year.
Earlier this year, Mr Musk said the long-awaited robo-taxi would be unveiled on 8 August, but that event has reportedly been delayed.
Tesla said on Tuesday that it was still working "vigorously" on robo-taxis, but the timing of the rollout would depend in part on regulatory approval.
FAQs
Tesla boss Elon Musk says the electric car maker will start producing and using humanoid robots from next year. In a social media post, Mr Musk said the robots will first be used by Tesla, which will start making them to sell in 2026.
What is Elon Musk's robot in 2025? ›
Musk had said in April that the Tesla robot, called Optimus, would be able to perform tasks in factory by the end of this year and could be ready for sale as soon as the end of 2025. Humanoid robots have been in development for several years by Japan's Honda and Hyundai Motor's Boston Dynamics.
What year will we have humanoid robots? ›
Humanoid robots are poised for significant growth in 2024, as companies ramp up production of their designs amid intensifying competition to commercialize them.
How much will the Tesla humanoid robot cost? ›
The robots are expected to cost $25,000 to $30,000, though no official price has been released.
What jobs will robots take over by 2025? ›
AI will replace both blue-collar and white-collar jobs that involve more straightforward and repetitive tasks. These jobs include drivers, factory workers, administrative assistants, paralegals and some copywriters.
How far away are we from humanoid robots? ›
The answer seems to be 2024, when a handful of well-funded companies will be deploying their robots in commercial pilot projects to figure out whether humanoids are really ready to get to work.
What is the most advanced humanoid robot ever? ›
Meet Ameca, the 'world's most advanced' humanoid robot, who has just moved to Edinburgh as part of a project to help robots and humans understand each other better. It's called a 'humanoid' robot because it's been designed to look and act in a similar way to us.
Will robots ever replace humans? ›
However, some people believe that technology and artificial intelligence will replace human workers' and their jobs, and in some circ*mstances, this is true. However, machines will never entirely replace the need for people in manufacturing or most other fields of human endeavor.
Can I buy a Tesla Bot? ›
The timeline for when Tesla robots will be released varies. Optimus robots could start shipping as early as 2025, although some estimates don't anticipate the robot going on sale until 2027. Still, there's no guarantee a finalized Tesla robot will be ready by then due to questions regarding its relevance.
What will the Tesla robot be able to do? ›
The humanoid robots have artificial intelligence that allows them to interact with the world around them, completely autonomously. In one example, Optimus sorts blocks by color, gently picking each one up and placing them in a corresponding bin, even pausing to fix one that tipped over.
Professional and Industrial robots can cost between $10,000 up to $100,000 or more for large manufacturing robots. These high-end robots are more complex, precise and powerful. They're used for sophisticated applications like complex assembly, hazardous material handling, and high-speed manufacturing.
What will robots do in 2050? ›
Looking Towards 2050: The Evolution of Robotics
As we peer into the future, specifically 2050, the robotics landscape becomes even more fascinating. Forecasts indicate that robotic prosthetics may surpass the capabilities of our biological limbs, controlled by the power of our minds.
What will robots do in 2030? ›
Large language models will automate vast swaths of cognitive work in the years ahead. In parallel, humanoid robots will automate vast swaths of physical work. And these robots are no longer a distant science fiction dream.
When can I buy Elon Musk robot? ›
Ahead of Tuesday's earnings, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the carmaker will begin selling its Optimus humanoid robot in 2026. In fact, Optimus has already started performing tasks autonomously, like handling batteries, in one of Tesla's facilities, according to its earnings report.
