Elon Musk sparked fresh debate over the future of automation after reposting a viral video depicting Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot performing tasks ranging from construction labor to cooking in professional kitchens. The 38-second montage has accumulated over 58.5 million views on X, showcasing Optimus in scenarios from emergency disaster response and judo sparring to casino dealing and police patrols.
The timing coincided with Musk’s appearance at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum on November 19 in Washington, D.C., where he presented an expansive vision for how humanoid robots could fundamentally alter human society within the next two decades.
Work as an Optional Hobby#
Speaking at the forum, Musk predicted that artificial intelligence and robotics will render traditional employment unnecessary within 10 to 20 years. “My prediction is that work will be optional,” Musk said, comparing future jobs to growing vegetables in a backyard rather than purchasing them from a store. He further claimed that money itself could eventually become irrelevant as AI-driven abundance eliminates scarcity.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who appeared alongside Musk at the forum, offered a more measured perspective. While acknowledging that jobs will transform, Huang quipped that he hoped Musk would give him advance notice before currency stops mattering.
Self-Replication Strategy Revealed#
In a significant revelation, Musk disclosed Tesla’s production strategy for achieving what he has called the “highest-volume product ever created.” Musk reportedly compared Optimus to a “Von Neumann probe”—referencing the theoretical self-replicating spacecraft concept developed by mathematician John von Neumann in the 1940s.
This approach suggests Tesla plans to have Optimus robots manufacture other Optimus robots, eliminating human labor from production entirely. The company aims to establish a one-million-unit-per-year production line at its Fremont factory, followed by a 10-million-unit line at Giga Texas. Musk has indicated production could eventually scale to billions of units annually.
Tesla confirmed it is installing first-generation production lines in anticipation of volume manufacturing, with a production-intent Optimus V3 prototype expected in early 2026. The company has set an ambitious $20,000 price target for mass-produced units, with several thousand Optimus robots projected for 2025 production—primarily for internal factory use.