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In just three years, Tesla has gone from concept to contender in the race for humanoid robotics supremacy—and it’s turning heads. While some industry skeptics, like Roth MKM analyst Craig Irwin, claim Tesla’s Optimus robot is “10 years behind” the curve, recent updates from Elon Musk prove otherwise. In fact, what Tesla has built might not just catch up to rivals like Boston Dynamics—it could leave them in the dust.

Analyst Criticism vs. Reality

Critics like Irwin mock Tesla’s initial robot reveal—which famously featured a person in a robot suit—as evidence that Tesla isn’t serious. Irwin even told Yahoo Finance, “A sentient humanoid robot by 2025? Come on.” But when you compare Tesla’s 2024 second-generation Optimus to actual robots from 2014, the critique falls flat. The market in 2014 was dominated by clunky, uncoordinated machines. Today’s Optimus walks, balances, and sorts objects with surprising grace.

Boston Dynamics Took 30 Years—Tesla Took 3

Let’s put things in perspective: Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 and didn’t debut its first humanoid robot—Atlas—until 2013, 21 years later. And the fully electric Atlas we now see with advanced mobility? That’s the product of 30+ years of R&D.

Tesla? The company introduced the idea of Optimus in 2021. By 2024, it has already:

• Deployed Optimus robots in its Fremont factory

• Demonstrated fine motor control (like picking up eggs and folding clothes)

• Built electric actuators and high-dexterity hands from scratch

Tesla’s Hands Beat Boston Dynamics—Literally

While Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot is powerful and agile, it lacks humanlike hands. The new Atlas uses basic clamp-like grippers, suitable for industrial tasks but far from capable of threading a needle or playing the piano. That’s where Tesla shines.

Optimus already boasts 11 degrees of freedom in each hand, with tactile sensors and superior dexterity. Elon Musk says Tesla will soon push this to 22 degrees of freedom, allowing Optimus to perform intricate human tasks, even playing piano.

As AI researcher Dr. Jim Fan wrote, Optimus’s hands are among the most advanced robotic hands in the world—potentially surpassing even Japan’s best humanoid prototypes.

Elon Musk’s Latest Optimus Updates

During Tesla’s Q2 2024 investor call, Elon Musk revealed new details:

• Two Optimus robots are already working in Tesla’s Fremont factory, moving battery cells into shipping containers.

• Tesla aims to start limited production of Optimus V1 early next year—for in-house use.

• By end of 2026, Tesla plans to ramp up to mass production, eventually selling to outside customers.

And where will this happen? At Giga Texas, which will serve as the production hub for both the next-gen vehicle and Optimus.

Musk also hinted that Optimus will be capable of learning tasks by watching videos or simply being told what to do—an unprecedented level of intelligence in robotics.

A Robot for Every Home?

Musk believes that the demand for general-purpose humanoid robots could eventually exceed 20 billion units. Tesla’s edge? Its deep experience in mass manufacturing and real-world AI, making it the only company realistically positioned to bring robots to consumers at scale.

The goal: produce robots cheaper than a Tesla car. As Musk said at a recent shareholder meeting, making Optimus cost just $10,000–$20,000 means designing it from the ground up for manufacturing efficiency.

Final Thoughts

While Elon Musk is known for his optimistic timelines, it’s hard to ignore Tesla’s momentum. The rapid progress in just three years—versus Boston Dynamics’ decades—is enough to give any critic pause.

Could Optimus change the world? Possibly. Will Tesla dominate humanoid robotics like it has electric vehicles? If the current pace holds, yes—and sooner than we think.