Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has unveiled the latest prototype of the company’s humanoid robot, Optimus Gen 2, showcasing its agility by demonstrating dance moves and squats. Musk shared a video presentation of Optimus Gen 2 on December 13, highlighting its improvements over the previous version.
The Optimus Gen 2 robot is now 22 pounds lighter than its predecessor, Optimus Gen 1. Notably, its foot construction mimics human anatomy, enhancing the robot’s balance and overall body control. In the video, the robot performs squats to showcase its improved capabilities.
One of the key advancements is the inclusion of tactile sensing on all fingers, allowing the robot to manipulate delicate objects with precision. The demonstration includes the robot picking up an egg and delicately placing it back down.
Tesla’s journey into humanoid robots began in 2022 with the first Optimus prototype, which had limitations in walking and visible internal components. Subsequent versions showed progress, with the latest video from Musk in the spring of 2023 revealing a robot capable of walking more freely and efficiently handling objects.
Elon Musk has been vocal about the need for increased regulatory oversight of artificial intelligence (AI), expressing concerns about AI surpassing human intelligence in the future. In a recent statement, Musk suggested that a “digital god” could render copyright lawsuits related to AI irrelevant.
Musk has consistently predicted the arrival of artificial general intelligence before 2030, a timeline that some industry experts view as overly optimistic. Despite differing opinions, Musk remains committed to pushing the boundaries of AI technology with innovations like the Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot.