Tesla continues to bet on its humanoid robot Optimus , which now incorporates xAI’s Grok AI assistant . A recent video shared on Platform X (formerly Twitter) shows the latest version of Optimus in action, but the image it leaves is far from Elon Musk’s vision for the “most important product” Tesla has ever created.
The video , released by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, shows Optimus with a new, gold look, more realistic human hands, and an upgraded design. The biggest change, however, isn't cosmetic: the robot now gets voice support through Grok, which allows it to understand spoken commands and respond with words, rather than relying solely on pre-set scenarios.
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The demo that didn't convince
Despite the technological upgrade, the demo doesn't necessarily impress the audience. Optimus accepts the command to go to the kitchen and fetch a Coke. However, the response is slow and requires several voice prompts to get going. It takes a few careful steps in the direction of what is supposed to be the kitchen, but the video cuts off before the mission is complete. In other words, the audience never learns whether the robot is capable of performing such a basic task.
Compared to previous demonstrations—like the human-assisted robots at “We, Robot” or the popcorn-serving models at the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles—the progress is clear. But it’s a long way from where Tesla can claim to have a product ready for mass-market release.
The reactions and the big promise
Marc Benioff, however, called Optimus a “productivity game-changer” that could replace human labor for $200,000 to $500,000. His positioning is not accidental, considering that Salesforce recently cut about 4,000 customer service jobs, which were filled by digital AI agents. Such a comment, therefore, reinforces fears about the possibility of widespread replacement of humans by robots in certain industries.
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Meanwhile, Elon Musk remains steadfast in his vision. In a recent presentation of Master Plan 4, Optimus appears as a central element of Tesla's future. Musk has stated that the robot could be produced in millions of units per year within the next 4-5 years, with the official start of production scheduled for 2026.
A market with high expectations but also challenges
The idea of a humanoid robot that can perform daily tasks –from serving drinks to working in industrial environments– is attractive. The application prospects are huge:
- Home use: assistance to the elderly, care for people with disabilities, daily chores.
- Professional use: industry, warehouses, catering, even health services.
- Routine work substitution: from simple manual tasks to office tasks, combined with AI software.
However, the reality is that technological complexity and cost are huge obstacles. Even leading robotics companies, such as Boston Dynamics, which impress with acrobatic robots, have not managed to create a mass commercial proposition for everyday life.
Tesla does have one advantage: its ability to combine robotics, AI software , and large-scale manufacturing. If it can solve the issues of reliability, safety, and cost, then the Optimus could become a truly flagship product.
Myth or future?
The question that remains is whether Tesla can deliver on its promise. So far, the videos show a robot that is making progress but remains clumsy. Reaction time, balance and the performance of even simple tasks indicate that the technology is in its early stages.
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Musk, of course, is no stranger to making over-the-top promises—from self-driving cars to ambitious production schedules for electric vehicles. Optimus, if it works as promised, could revolutionize work and productivity. If not, it will go down in history as yet another project that failed to live up to the hype.
In any case, the presentation of Optimus with Grok shows that Tesla is not giving up the bet. The road to a robot that can become a "home assistant" or "worker of the future" is full of technological and social challenges. The only thing that is certain is that the battle for which company will manage to launch the first truly useful humanoid robot has just begun.
