Next-generation Optimus revealed? Golden body, humanoid hands, and powered by Grok

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently met with Tesla (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk and shared a video on X, which appears to showcase the next-generation prototype of Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus.

In the video, the gold-bodied Optimus seems to be equipped with new features from the AI assistant Grok, answering questions and taking mechanical steps, indicating it is still in the early stages of development. The Optimus prototype displayed this time has several notable changes: it features a brand-new gold design in appearance, and the hand design is more refined. These hands currently look more like those of a human model, but they do not yet appear to be functional.

The design of Optimus's hands has always been a crucial part of the project, as the robot needs to be able to perform both delicate and heavy tasks. Tesla's goal is for Optimus to be able to perform actions such as threading a needle or playing the piano. Musk has mentioned that the next-generation Optimus hand design will mimic human hands, with fingers controlled by cables, similar to the structure of a human arm.

The successful development and deployment of Optimus will bring huge market opportunities for Tesla. If Tesla can efficiently launch Optimus in the coming years, it will provide enterprises with solutions for handling tedious labor, thereby significantly boosting Tesla's market valuation. Musk recently stated that Optimus will be the main contributor to Tesla's future valuation, expected to account for 80% of the company's total value.

However, some users on X have raised doubts, arguing that although there is a widespread view in the market that Tesla's robot Optimus is far ahead, the actual situation seems to be quite different from this perception.

By comparing the video content, it can be seen that Optimus appears sluggish in the demonstration, taking as long as ten seconds to answer a simple question, and only begins to move when the other person is at least one meter away, with an overall slow walking speed. Although the hand design of Optimus looks exquisite, there is no demonstration of any movement, which has led to further doubts: is this really the third-generation hand technology, or is it simply a shell added to prevent competitors from copying it?

This user pointed out that, in comparison, the latest second-generation robot Figure Gen 2 from the American humanoid robotics startup Figure is more practical. It can perform a variety of daily tasks, including packing items and scanning QR codes, putting clothes into a washing machine, folding fabric, and placing tableware into a dishwasher. These demonstrations show its practical application capabilities in everyday scenarios, making it much more practical and advanced than Optimus's current performance.

Tesla is shifting its business focus to the robotics sector, and its Optimus robot project is highly anticipated. Musk encourages investors to focus on the future of autonomous vehicles and robotics technology, rather than just the current automotive business.

The proportion of Tesla's automotive business revenue is declining. In the second quarter, automotive business revenue accounted for about 74% of total sales, but profits fell due to a drop in vehicle sales. In addition, due to the new U.S. budget bill, Tesla will lose several electric vehicle incentive policies, which may further affect the profitability of its automotive business.

To address these challenges, Tesla is accelerating the research, development, and production of the Optimus robot. Musk stated in the July earnings call that Tesla plans to expand Optimus's annual production to 1 million units within the next five years.

The Optimus 3 prototype is expected to be launched by the end of this year. This robot is designed to perform tasks such as factory work and household chores. It is currently in its second generation, and the third-generation model is also under intensive development. The gold Optimus mentioned above may be the prototype of the third-generation model.

Musk believes that as robotics technology continues to advance and application scenarios expand, Optimus will become the main source of Tesla's future revenue.