At Tesla's recent shareholder meeting, CEO Elon Musk stated that the company's humanoid robot Optimus could eradicate poverty and transform the global economy. Investors approved a pay package for Musk potentially worth $1 trillion, amid his ambitious vision for robotics. Musk envisions a future where work becomes optional and abundance is sustainable.
Tesla's annual shareholder meeting saw enthusiastic support as investors chanted 'Elon, Elon!' while approving a performance-based pay package for CEO Elon Musk that could reach $1 trillion. Moments later, Musk highlighted the potential of the Optimus humanoid robot, declaring, 'Optimus will actually eliminate poverty.' He argued that it represents the only viable path to providing universal medical care and ending economic hardship, stating, 'People often talk about eliminating poverty, giving everyone amazing medical care. There’s actually only one way to do that, and that’s with the Optimus robot.'
Musk described Optimus as an engine of 'sustainable abundance,' capable of outworking humans by operating 24/7 and delivering five times the annual productivity of a person. He predicted it could expand the global economy by a factor of 10 or even 100, emphasizing the unlimited potential of embodied AI over enhancements to human labor. In a recent earnings call, Musk noted, 'There’s a limit to how much AI can do in terms of enhancing the productivity of humans, but there is not really a limit to AI that is embodied.' He tied this to broader solutions, saying AI and robotics are essential to avert national debt crises and prevent bankruptcy.
The vision includes profound societal shifts: robots replacing all jobs, making work optional—like 'growing your own vegetables, instead of buying them from the store'—and enabling 'universal high income' where anyone can access desired products or services. Musk suggested Optimus could reshape criminal justice by monitoring individuals to prevent crime, with robots potentially 'follow[ing] you around and stop[ping] you from doing crime.' He described this capitalist-driven future as ironically leading to a 'communist utopia.'
Despite demonstrations of Optimus handing out candy on Halloween and performing tasks like Kung Fu, the robot remains in the design phase, facing challenges such as dexterous hands. Mass production is anticipated soon, with a target price of $20,000 to $30,000 per unit. Musk acknowledged significant disruption and 'trauma' ahead, admitting he is 'pathologically optimistic' with timelines, but remains confident in technology's role in addressing global economic issues.
