Billionaire Elon Musk recently expressed agreement with tech leader David Holz's prediction that there will be approximately 1 billion humanoid robots on Earth in the next two decades. Musk took to social media to concur with Holz's statement, adding the condition that the foundations of civilization remain stable. Musk, the founder of artificial intelligence (AI) research lab Midjourney, believes that this prediction is achievable given the development of Tesla's prototype humanoid robot.
The Tesla Optimus, also known as Tesla Bot, was first announced at the company's AI Day event in August 2021. Musk stated that the company planned to build a prototype by the following year and believed that it had the potential to be more significant than the vehicle business over time. At an event in October 2022, Musk expressed his hope to eventually produce millions of the Optimus robots, each with an estimated price tag of $20,000. However, he acknowledged that the robot's capabilities were currently limited and that he did not want to push it to perform more complicated tasks to avoid any mishaps.
Musk acknowledged that there is still much work to be done to refine the Optimus robot, but he believes that it will become an incredibly capable machine in the next five to ten years. He hopes to bring the robot to market within the next three to five years. While making humanoid robots may not align directly with Tesla's mission of accelerating sustainable energy, Musk believes that the mission broadens with the advent of Optimus, contributing to a future that is "awesome."
It is important to note that Musk's agreement with Holz's prediction does not guarantee its realization. However, as a prominent figure in the tech industry, Musk's support adds credibility to the idea. As always, time will tell whether the prediction of 1 billion humanoid robots on Earth within the next two decades becomes a reality.