Robot
Elon Musk recently shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showcasing Tesla’s Optimus robot supposedly autonomously folding a black shirt at a table. However, Musk later clarified that the video was not a true representation of the robot’s current capabilities. In a follow-up post about 30 minutes later, Musk admitted that Optimus cannot currently perform the task autonomously.
Optimus folds a shirt pic.twitter.com/3F5o3jVLq1
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2024
He stated that while the robot is not yet capable of autonomously folding shirts, it will eventually gain this capability in any environment, eliminating the need for a fixed table with a designated box holding only one shirt. Despite Musk’s clarification, the video raised skepticism and led online observers to question how the demonstration was achieved.
This incident follows Musk’s previous sharing of videos featuring Tesla’s Optimus robot engaging in activities such as yoga stretches, squats, and picking up an egg. The robot was unveiled by Musk in 2021, with the promise that it would utilize the same artificial intelligence systems powering Tesla’s self-driving cars.
Although Musk did not provide a timeline for when Optimus would achieve full autonomy in shirt-folding or similar tasks, the incident has prompted discussions about transparency in presenting the capabilities of emerging technologies.
Critics on X and Threads, Meta’s new social media platform, quickly dissected the video, accusing Musk and Tesla of potentially misleading viewers by showcasing a capability that Optimus does not yet possess.
The clarification highlights the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding the development and communication of advanced technologies, particularly those with implications for automation and artificial intelligence in various industries.
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