Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced the Tesla Bot. And now that we’ve had some time to digest it, we have questions and so does Hollywood actor Will Smith.
According to CNBC, Musk made the announcement at Tesla’s Artificial Intelligence Day on Aug 19. Already dubbed Optimus, the humanoid robot will reportedly substitute human labor by accomplishing repetitive physical tasks.
Join us to build the future of AI → https://t.co/Gdd4MNet6q pic.twitter.com/86cXMVnJ59
— Tesla (@Tesla) August 20, 2021
If you follow him on Instagram, you may have noticed Will Smith’s subtle post referencing “I, Robot” while seemingly reminding us of the eery consequences if humans fail to control robots. However, by 2022, it may be their world and we may just be living in it.
“It’s supposed to be friendly and navigate through a world built for humans,” Musk announced. “You can run away from it and most likely overpower it so hopefully that doesn’t ever happen, but you never know.”
Immediately following the announcement, Twitter users had a field day with a slew of memes and reactions.
Where have I seen Elon musks Tesla Bot before…. pic.twitter.com/JHNmetEwPa
— CaptainMB (@capnyuji) August 20, 2021
when the Tesla bot is recharging so there’s no one to kill the bug in my apartment pic.twitter.com/0NgGyK1abG
— knyck (@knycksutherland) August 20, 2021
BREAKING: Elon Musk announces he’s building the Tesla Bot: a 5’8” humanoid robot prototype that can deadlift 150 lbs.
UPDATE: We’re all going to die. pic.twitter.com/gNWHJqOhNZ
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) August 23, 2021
Like some Twitter users, Musk previously also held beliefs against the creation of robots, but has retracted his perspective within the last few years. Musk now believes robots will resolve the labor shortage and provide humans with the option to perform mundane tasks.
“Essentially, in the future, physical work will be a choice,” Musk said during the presentation at Tesla’s Artificial Intelligence Day. “If you want to do it, you can, but you won’t need to do it.”
It’s questionable whether Tesla will succeed with an efficient humanoid bot. It could either produce substantial benefits or its existence could produce the exact opposite.
Musk reportedly aims to release a prototype in 2022 which will be powered by a Tesla Full Self-Driving computer. At 5’8”, the Tesla Bot will be able to lift 150 pounds. It will also include built-in features such as an information display in substitution of a face, and autopilot cameras.
Whether you’re convinced or still skeptical of the announcement, only time will tell if these robots will become friends or foes.