Tesla’s Optimus and FIGURE’s Figure01: The Latest in Humanoid Robot Technology

Several companies are currently working on humanoid robots for various purposes, including addressing labor shortages, performing dangerous or repetitive tasks, helping with household chores, and combating loneliness in the elderly. One notable example is the “Optimus” robot created by Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, which is expected to perform tasks at the plant by the end of the year. Musk claims that Tesla’s Optimus robot is more advanced than other manufacturers’ humanoid robots, based on artificial intelligence to carry out human-like tasks.

Despite Elon Musk’s history of missing deadlines on ambitious promises to investors, Tesla has made progress in developing humanoid robots. The company introduced the first generation of its Optimus robot, “Bumblebee,” in September 2022 and recently showcased a video of the second generation folding a t-shirt at their facility. Other companies like FIGURE have also unveiled plans for advanced humanoid robots, with significant investments from tech giants like Intel, Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

The latest advancements in humanoid robots are exemplified by FIGURE’s Figure01 robot, which boasts impressive capabilities and features. The robot is equipped with shiny metallic armor and joints that provide flexibility and movement in various body parts. The Figure01 robot can engage in conversations, understand subtitles, analyze images, and carry out tasks like handing an apple or emptying a trash can with a human-like intonation. Despite their current limitations in terms of weight, speed, and capabilities