Musk Envisions Tesla’s Optimus as an ‘Unparalleled Surgeon’
Tesla CEO Elon Musk made audacious predictions about the company’s Optimus humanoid robot during the Q3 earnings call, claiming it will evolve into an “incredible surgeon” with the potential to eradicate global poverty. Musk portrayed Optimus as having the “potential to be the biggest product of all time” and an “infinite money glitch” for Tesla’s profitability.
“Imagine if everyone had access to an incredible surgeon,” Musk mused, adding that Tesla’s vision is to “create a world where there is no poverty” through the power of robotics and robotaxis. He unveiled plans for the launch of Optimus Version 3 in early 2026, with ambitious production targets of one million units per year.
However, Tesla has encountered significant hurdles in humanoid robot development. The company initially pledged 5,000 units in 2025 but has reportedly produced only a few hundreds. Recent departures include Milan Kovac, the head of the Optimus program since 2022, who resigned in June.
Musk also tied the Optimus development to his proposed $1 trillion compensation package, stating he wouldn’t be “comfortable building a robot army” without having more control over Tesla. Despite the grandiose promises, Optimus remains in the demonstration stages, recently making an appearance at Tesla’s Hollywood diner serving popcorn to guests.