Who Is Winning the AI Race: China, the EU or the United States?

Tesla's AI Day Offers A Glimpse Of Just How Sentient Its Bots Have Become

Just how sentient Tesla's cars actually are is the subject of more than just debate. Days before Musk made those comments, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into whether the company's Autopilot system is defective, after drivers using it repeatedly collided with vehicles at crash scenes, including emergency responders. — AFP

Tesla has long staged splashy events to generate buzz and media coverage of forthcoming – and sometimes aspirational – products. Part revival meeting, part recruiting event, the faithful get to see CEO Elon Musk speak, and investors get updates on priorities and progress.

On Sept 30, Musk will host Tesla's second AI Day in Palo Alto, California, formerly the home to its global headquarters.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk faces sceptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil 'Optimus' robot

The invitations that went out recently promised the latest developments in the company's artificial intelligence efforts, including: Full Self-Driving, or FSD, the in-beta system that still needs an attentive human driver minding the wheel at all times; Tesla Bot, aka Optimus, the humanoid Musk has said will one day take over dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks from humans; and Dojo, the supercomputer Musk has said Tesla's FSD team may utilise to improve the "brains" behind its driving systems, using the massive volume of video footage that the company's cars capture.

The show-stopper of Tesla's first AI Day, held in August of last year, was the humanoid bot that, at that time, was actually entirely human. After engineers gave detailed, highly technical presentations on the company's driving-system development work, a person dressed in a skintight white suit and black helmet took to the stage to perform a jerky dance and presage an announcement from Musk.

ALSO READ: Musk says Tesla may have 'Optimus' robot prototype within months

"Tesla is arguably the world's biggest robotics company," he said, explaining the rationale behind the automaker working on a bot. "Our cars are basically semi-sentient robots on wheels."

Just how sentient Tesla's cars actually are is the subject of more than just debate. Days before Musk made those comments, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into whether the company's Autopilot system is defective, after drivers using it repeatedly collided with vehicles at crash scenes, including emergency responders. NHTSA opened a second defect probe in February.

ALSO READ: Musk's bets on Tesla: human-like robots and self-driving cars

Earlier this month, a California man filed a proposed class action suit in San Francisco federal court, claiming the carmaker has "deceptively and misleadingly" marketed its driver-assistance systems and strung consumers along by suggesting for years that it's on the cusp of mastering the technology.

Musk has nonetheless extended access of FSD to about 160,000 owners in the US and Canada. When one of those owners posted videos last month showing the latest beta version struggling with right turns, the CEO told the customer not to complain.

When another Twitter fan suggested the world's richest man may have been having a bad day and should apologise, Musk wrote back no – the owner was in the wrong.

The mood will surely be more jovial during AI Day, which Musk postponed back in June to give Tesla time to develop a working Optimus prototype. On its website and in job listings, the company refers to work on a bi-pedal humanoid for manufacturing, logistics and general purposes.

"The code you will write will at term run in millions of humanoid robots across the world, and will therefore be held to high quality standards," a posting for a controls engineer says. Tesla employs more than 20,000 people just at its auto plant in Fremont, California. How many of those jobs will be eliminated by bots is far from certain.

An attempt to extensively automate the facility when the Model 3 first went into production ended in disaster. The CEO took ownership of the calamity back in 2018, saying it was his mistake.

"Humans are underrated," Musk quipped. – Bloomberg

Elon Musk Unveils Humanoid 'optimus' Robot At Tesla's AI Day

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, unveiled the highly anticipated humanoid robot called "Optimus" at Tesla's "AI Day" event. The event aimed to showcase Tesla's advancements in artificial intelligence and their vision for the future beyond electric vehicles. Musk believes that a robot business will be even more valuable than Tesla's cars and aims to expand into the field of robotics. This article will explore the unveiling of Optimus, its capabilities, and the potential impact it may have on various industries.

The Unveiling of Optimus

At the AI Day event, Elon Musk introduced the prototype of Optimus, the humanoid robot developed by Tesla. The robot walked on stage and waved to the audience, showcasing its basic motor skills and ability to interact with humans. In a video presentation, Optimus was seen performing tasks such as carrying a box, watering plants, and manipulating metal bars in Tesla's factory. This demonstration provided a glimpse into the potential capabilities of the robot.

The Vision for Optimus

Elon Musk emphasized Tesla's goal to create a useful humanoid robot as quickly as possible. He acknowledged that current humanoid robots lack a sophisticated artificial intelligence system, making them incapable of navigating the world independently. Additionally, these robots are expensive to produce and are manufactured in low volumes. In contrast, Optimus aims to be an extremely capable robot that can be mass-produced in high volumes, potentially reaching millions of units. Furthermore, Musk stated that the cost of Optimus is expected to be significantly lower than that of a car, estimated to be under $20,000.

The Challenges Ahead

While the unveiling of Optimus generated excitement, there are significant challenges to overcome before the robot can fulfill its potential. Elon Musk acknowledged that humanoid robots face difficulties in replicating the dexterity and versatility of human hands. Manipulating various objects in a human-like manner remains a complex task for robotics. However, Tesla is determined to address these challenges and aims to utilize Optimus initially for boring or dangerous tasks within their factories, such as moving parts or attaching bolts to cars.

Future Applications of Humanoid Robots

Elon Musk envisions a future where humanoid robots play an integral role in various aspects of human life. He proposed that robots could be employed in households to perform tasks like cooking, gardening, and assisting the elderly. The potential for robots to become companions or even intimate partners for humans was also mentioned. While these ideas may seem futuristic, Musk believes that advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence will eventually make them a reality.

Updates on Tesla's Self-Driving Technology

In addition to the unveiling of Optimus, Elon Musk provided updates on Tesla's long-awaited self-driving technology. He reiterated the importance of achieving full self-driving capability for Tesla's success, as it has significant implications for the company's valuation and regulatory compliance. Musk also mentioned Tesla's high-speed computer, Dojo, which plays a crucial role in the development of self-driving technology. The ultimate goal is to mass-produce a robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals by 2024.

Conclusion

The introduction of Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot, marks a significant step in the company's expansion beyond electric vehicles. Elon Musk showcased Tesla's commitment to developing advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. While there are challenges to overcome, the potential applications of humanoid robots in various industries are immense. As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of innovation, Optimus represents an exciting glimpse into the future of robotics and automation.

FAQs

1. How does Optimus differ from existing humanoid robots?

Optimus aims to be an extremely capable robot that can be mass-produced in high volumes at a significantly lower cost than current humanoid robots. Its potential lies in its scalability and affordability.

2. What are the challenges in creating humanoid robots?

Replicating human dexterity and versatility in manipulating objects remains a significant challenge for robotics. However, advancements in technology continue to address these difficulties.

3. What are the future applications of humanoid robots?

Elon Musk envisions humanoid robots assisting with household tasks, caring for the elderly, and even forming companionship with humans. The potential applications are vast and varied.

4. How does self-driving technology tie into Tesla's robotic ambitions?

Tesla's self-driving technology plays a crucial role in the development and integration of humanoid robots. Both technologies aim to reshape transportation and automation industries.

5. When can we expect Optimus to be available for commercial use?

While specific timelines were not provided, Elon Musk aims to refine Optimus and start production possibly in the coming years.

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