Mashable: At the We, Robot event, Elon Musk once again presented Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, emphasizing its potential to "perform any task you can imagine." Musk asserted with confidence, "The Optimus will be able to walk among you. You will have the opportunity to approach them, and they will serve beverages."

A conversation between Tesla Optimus bot and a human is the best thing you’ll see on the internet today.

pic.twitter.com/2M9UJPTTLX — DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) October 11, 2024

He elaborated on the robot's capabilities, indicating that they are virtually boundless, with possibilities including walking dogs, mowing lawns, babysitting, and much more. Musk anticipates that the long-term cost of the Optimus will range from $20,000 to $30,000. "I am convinced that this will be the most important product ever developed," he remarked.

Tesla's Optimus robot is being promoted as a groundbreaking innovation, with the potential to exceed the capabilities of iconic science fiction figures such as R2D2 and C3PO.

Musk envisions that the Optimus will revolutionize both domestic environments and manual labor in industrial contexts. "I believe that every one of the 8 billion individuals on Earth will desire an Optimus companion," Musk stated during the event.

Tesla initially introduced the concept of the humanoid robot, initially referred to as the Tesla Bot, during AI Day in 2021. The robot was intended to perform tasks that are repetitive, hazardous, or otherwise monotonous for humans. Since that time, Optimus has significantly advanced, transforming into a versatile machine with functionalities that greatly surpass those of its earlier iterations.

In December 2023, Tesla unveiled the Optimus Gen 2, an upgraded iteration of its humanoid robot. This version exhibits substantial enhancements over the previous model, featuring increased walking speeds, improved hand dexterity, and tactile sensors integrated into its fingers for greater precision in movement.

Tesla Optimus Robot at $20k to never have to dishes again and have someone to beat af Settlers of Catan is a no brainer pic.twitter.com/CHJp9E6F6e — Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) October 11, 2024

Earlier this year, a video was released by Musk that highlighted one of Optimus' new capabilities—folding shirts. The video, named "Optimus folds a shirt," illustrated the robot's ability to pick up and neatly fold a black shirt from a basket.