Elon Musk astounds audience with cutting-edge robo-taxi and AI robot debut at Tesla’s “We, Robot” event in Burbank. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a trio of futuristic products, including the long-awaited robo-taxi, an autonomous robo-van, and an AI-powered humanoid robot called Optimus.
Musk, known for his flair for the dramatic, arrived on stage in the newly launched CyberCab model, delivered by an astronaut, making his entrance even more grandiose. With no steering wheels or pedals, the CyberCab made an autonomous journey through the Discovery Movie Studios backlot to the stage. Musk jokingly said, “The car doesn’t have steering wheels or pedals. So I hope it goes well, we’ll find out,” much to the amusement of the crowd.
The robo-taxi, which Tesla enthusiasts have eagerly awaited since Musk first teased the concept in 2019, promises to revolutionize the ridesharing industry. Musk had previously set lofty goals, predicting over a million robo-taxis on the road by 2020, a target that wasn’t met. However, this unveiling brings him one step closer to realizing that vision, with 20 new robo-taxis being showcased and the promise that the cost will be under $30,000. “A lot of the time, cars aren’t doing anything,” Musk explained to the enthusiastic crowd.
“But if they were autonomous, they could be used five, maybe ten times more.” While the robo-taxi is expected to hit the market by 2027, Musk cautiously added that he was being “a little optimistic with the timeframes.” Adding to the excitement, Musk revealed Tesla’s new RoboVan, capable of seating up to 20 people, designed to transport larger groups like sports teams. However, there is no confirmed price or production date for the van. Perhaps the most surprising element of the evening was Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid AI robot, which can assist with household chores or even babysit. The robots, wearing cowboy hats, entertained the audience by serving drinks and playing games on stage. “Please be nice to the Optimus robots,” Musk quipped, “and they will walk among you.
” As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of autonomous technology, Musk’s vision of a driverless future may still be a few years away. In the meantime, Tesla drivers can use the company’s full self-driving feature, which remains an assisted service requiring human supervision. Tesla plans to roll out this feature in Europe and China next year, pending regulatory approval.