Just because Tesla’s Optimus is in production doesn’t mean it’s actually ready

Tesla has started early production of its Optimus humanoid robot in Fremont, but the announcement does not show that the machines are ready for useful, independent work. Elon Musk said their hands, safety, reliability, durability and AI still need development, leaving a gap between making robots and having them perform real tasks.

Tesla did not disclose how many robots it has built, what they can do autonomously or how reliably they work without people. Musk said reaching 20,000 robots a week would take at least a year, while deliveries to outside companies might begin around the end of 2027; the company also needs to build a training fleet and integrate a more powerful chip. Robotics researcher Ken Goldberg said dexterity and dependable performance remain major challenges, especially for tasks involving materials such as wires and fabric.