RT.com
27 Jan 2022, 19:42 GMT+10
The high-tech company is seeking to develop a humanoid robot prototype within the year 2022
Speaking during an earnings call on Wednesday, Tesla's co-founder and CEO, Elon Musk, announced that the company is prioritizing the development of its humanoid robot - tentatively dubbed 'Optimus' - in 2022. He described the project as "very important."
First unveiled in August last year, the 5-foot-8-inch, 125-pound machine, that also goes under the name Tesla Bot, is based on the same artificial intelligence technology that is used in Tesla's driver-assistance software. Its intended uses would include performing dangerous, repetitive, physical tasks in place of humans.
So important is the project in Elon Musk's eyes that it could have the "potential to be more significant than the vehicle business over time." During initial trials, the machine will likely be put to good use at Tesla's own plants, "moving parts around the factory or something like that," Tesla's CEO explained on Wednesday.
A prototype can be expected as soon as this year.
The introduction of this kind of robot could have a profound impact on the global economy, Musk argued. According to the entrepreneur, machines could eventually eliminate labor shortages.
Meanwhile, Tesla's much-awaited Cybertruck is having to take a back seat, with the production date being further postponed until 2023. On top of that, Tesla is not going to introduce any "new vehicle models this year," as that would not make "any sense because we'll still be parts constrained," Musk said.
The announcement comes at a time when competition in the electric vehicle market is tightening, with the likes of Ford Motor Co and Rivian Automotive having already launched electric pickup trucks of their own.
However, judging by its quarterly profits, Tesla is doing just fine so far, chalking up a record-breaking net income of $2.88 billion in the last three months of 2021.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of New York Statesman news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to New York Statesman.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rebounded Tuesday with all the major indices gaining ground. Markets in the UK, Europe and Canada...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Financial markets kicked off the week on a cautious note as President Donald Trump rolled out a fresh round...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: At a two-day summit over the weekend, the BRICS bloc of emerging economies issued a joint declaration condemning...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: After months of warnings from former federal officials and weather experts, the deadly flash floods that struck the...
MOSCOW, Russia: Just hours after his sudden dismissal by President Vladimir Putin, Russia's former transport minister, Roman Starovoit,...