Elon Musk is known for his ambitious and often audacious plans. His latest vision? Humanoid robots. Musk recently announced that Tesla will begin producing these robots for internal use next year. By 2026, he hopes to ramp up production of them for other companies. The announcement, made on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has generated quite a buzz.

The robot, called Optimus, is designed to perform tasks that are often repetitive, dangerous or just boring. Imagine a robot folding clothes, handling logistics or working on an assembly line. This is no longer science fiction—it’s becoming a reality. Musk first introduced the Optimus project last year with a prototype called Bumblebee. Recently, Tesla shared a video of the next-generation robot folding T-shirts, showing its progress and potential.

Humanoid robots are not a new concept. Companies like Honda and Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics have been working on it for years. The aim is to address labor shortages and make certain jobs safer and more efficient. Tesla’s involvement in this field will increase competition and innovation in this field even more.

Musk has a history of making lofty promises. In 2019, he claimed Tesla would have a network of autonomous “robotaxi” cars by 2020. That hasn’t happened yet. Just last week, he mentioned that the robotaxi design needed significant changes, which could delay its release even further. This track record makes some people skeptical about the Optimus timeline.

Despite the skeptics, Musk’s influence and Tesla’s technological prowess cannot be denied. Tesla’s shift in focus to artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software and now human robots signals a broader strategy. This shift comes at a time when demand for Tesla’s electric vehicles is waning. More than 80% of Tesla’s revenue still comes from EVs, but Musk is clearly trying to diversify.

On Tuesday, Tesla will report its second quarter results. Analysts expect the company’s profit margin to reach a five-year low. Still, all eyes are on Musk’s ambitious projects. Tesla’s future seems to be much more than cars.

Musk’s vision for Optimus could revolutionize a number of industries. If these robots can truly perform their jobs reliably, they could transform manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and more. It’s a futuristic idea, but under Musk’s leadership, it’s one that’s getting closer to reality. Whether or not Optimus meets its timeline, it’s clear that Musk’s relentless pursuit of innovation isn’t about to slow down.