Humanoid robots have long been a punchline, from clumsy factory demos to viral clips of machines tripping over cables. Tesla’s Optimus project arrived in that context, easy to mock and easier to dismiss as a distraction from electric cars.

Elon Musk says Tesla plans to sell its Optimus humanoid robot by 2027, but only if it proves safe, reliable, and ready for real-world use.

Tesla Inc. TSLA and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the Optimus humanoid robot and Space-based AI could outperform the entire Earth's productivity. Optimus Could Vastly Exceed Current Goods And Services Musk,

Optimus's origins trace back to Tesla's AI Day in August 2021, where Musk unveiled the concept as a general-purpose humanoid to address labour shortages and enhance productivity.

It marks a major shift for Tesla, which is currently the world’s most valuable automotive firm with a market valuation close to $1.5 trillion. It is also one of the most profitable electric vehicle maker, however it recently lost its crown to China’s BYD as the world’s biggest EV seller.

Tesla just wrapped up its earnings call for the 2025 fiscal year, in which it recorded that its year-on-year profits dropped by nearly half. Its GAAP net income came to US$3.8 billion, down from $7.1 billion in 2024,

Hiking subscriptions, making robots, and selling fewer cars? Tesla is acting like a tech company in more ways than one.

Tesla expects to more than double capital spending in 2026 as it invests heavily in robotics and driverless technology.