Tesla's Optimus Robot Showcases Advanced Dancing Skills, Sparking Excitement and Debate

Elon Musk's dancing Optimus robot post may be a tease aimed at China

The 6-second clip shows the Optimus robot performing fluid motions with its arms and legs, swaying rhythmically with a degree of balance and coordination. However, even this impressive feat, if we are being honest, still seems a little janky and awkward. Unlike earlier demos, which featured more tentative or jerky motions, this performance appeared deliberate and confident, indicating significant improvements in the robot's control systems. "More coming shortly! The team has been working very hard in the background," Musk wrote, accompanying the video. He also explained that the Optimus robot had been trained entirely in simulation using reinforcement learning (RL) and trial-and-error. In this technique, an AI agent learns optimal behavior through trial and error in a virtual environment. According to Musk, numerous "optimizations and fixes" have been implemented in Tesla's sim-to-real transfer pipeline, a notoriously difficult challenge in robotics. Training robots in simulation is far more efficient and safer than training them in the real world, but virtual environments often differ from physical reality in subtle but crucial ways. Overcoming these discrepancies (known as the "reality gap") has been a key hurdle for robotics developers across the industry.

Watch Tesla's humanoid robot pulling some snappy dance moves

Tesla has shared a new video showing its Optimus humanoid robot pulling some rather impressive dance moves. While the nifty footwork might not be much use for the industrial settings that the robot is destined for, the 60-second clip effectively showcases its increasing agility and lifelike range of motion. The clip comes a day after Optimus boss Milan Kovac said in an online post that his robotics team "has been working very hard in the background." Recommended Videos Kovac added that for the dancing, Optimus, also known as the Tesla Bot, was trained entirely in simulation, with reinforcement learning. He also noted that the cable in the second clip was in place "in case of a fall" and was not actually holding the robot. The third generation of the Tesla Bot was unveiled in March 2025. It features significant design and functional upgrades that include a 22-degree-of-freedom hand (up from 11 in previous versions), self-recharging capability, and advanced AI that allows the robot to learn tasks like a human rather than relying on traditional programming. Tesla chief Elon Musk has previously said that "thousands" of the robots could one day work alongside human staff at Tesla factories in the next year or two, taking care of "dangerous, repetitive, [and] boring tasks." There are also plans for a commercial launch, with Musk claiming that Optimus could one day potter around the home as a household helper, or even "babysit your kid, walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks." At $20,000 a pop, it won't come cheap, though there's also been talk of offering a more affordable rental service. For decades we've been promised advanced, intelligent, and truly useful humanoid robots, and now the technology appears to be finally delivering. Tesla is now in a rapidly developing global race to build a practical humanoid robot, with major players such as Tesla, Figure AI, Apptronik, and Boston Dynamics competing alongside a string of impressive Chinese rivals. Companies in the sector are keen to move toward mass production in a bid to address labor shortages and automate repetitive or dangerous tasks. While challenges like cost, safety, and real-world complexity remain, there's a growing possibility that in the next few years, humanoid robots could enter the workplace -- and even everyday life -- at an unprecedented scale.

Tesla shares video of its Optimus robot catching up to competition

Tesla has shared a video of the progress of its Optimus humanoid robot, but it still looks like it is catching up to the competition. CEO Elon Musk has been telling shareholders that Optimus is a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity for the company. Musk believes that Tesla is going to eventually produce tens of millions of Optimus robots per year. Tesla is already using some robots inside its factory and Musk suggested that Tesla could start selling the robot to outside customers as soon as next year. He has been guiding a price between $25,000 and $30,000 per robot. But as Musk's lawyers have made so clear, this is all "corporate puffery" and the company is still very much in the development phase of the robot. It has been sporadically releasing updates of the progress in making the robot more useful. In December, we shared an update about the Tesla Optimus' latest walking capacity, which showed improvements, but it showed capacity similar to what competition achieved almost a decade earlier. Tesla has now released a new video showing an Optimus prototype dancing: Milan Kovac, Tesla's head of the Optimus program, commented on the video: More coming shortly! The team has been working very hard in the background. Entirely trained in simulation with RL. Many optimizations and fixes have been put in place in our sim-to-real training code. While the progress is impressive, it looks like Tesla is still very much catching up to the competition. Unitree released a similar video of its humanoid robot dancing months ago: And since then, it has released much more impressive videos of its robots doing martial arts, jumping, and even doing flips. There has been a surge of companies working on humanoid robots, and there have been clear advancements in this field. We were particularly impressed by Tesla's latest hands for Optimus. However, robotics isn't the main bottleneck to making humanoid robots useful. This is a demonstration of what movements the latest robotics can support, but all of Tesla's demonstrations of Optimus robots doing actually useful things were powered by human assistance. In short, Optimus still has the same problem as Tesla's "self-driving" vehicles: they need human assistance. Figure, X1, Unitree, Xpeng, and many others. The humanoid robot space is getting big. I am fairly bullish on humanoid robots, but I don't think Tesla has a lead in the space. I think the space needs to keep improving robotics so that they are ready when AI becomes smooth enough to be useful when integrated into such robots. Tesla is indeed making progress on that front, but I have yet to see proof that they are ahead of the other companies I just mentioned. On the contrary, I'm concerned by the fact that Tesla was not forthcoming about the human assistance behind the demonstration at the 'We, Robot' event.

Elon Musk's dancing robot Optimus impresses Shopify CEO but internet's worried about dish-washing

Elon Musk's Optimus robot has captivated the internet with its impressive dance moves, sparking awe and humorous speculation. The viral video showcases the robot's fluidity and precision, leading to praise from tech leaders like Shopify's CEO. While many marvel at the technological advancement, others playfully ponder the future implications, such as robots managing retail inventory and needing stylish shoes.Elon Musk's Optimus robot is back in the spotlight -- and this time, it's dancing like nobody's watching. A video of the humanoid robot grooving to upbeat music has left the internet awestruck, questioning whether it's real or a next-level AI illusion. It isn't. It's very real, and even Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke couldn't help but react. While many praised the robot's smooth moves, others had more pressing questions -- from retail inventory capabilities to whether robots will soon need branded shoes. The viral video shows the robot effortlessly pulling off choreographed steps, prompting many to marvel at the tech behind it. Tobi Lütke, CEO of Shopify, reacted with awe, suggesting we've reached a significant milestone in tech evolution. The internet was collectively stunned by the fluidity of Tesla's Optimus robot's dance moves. One simply noted that the robot dances better than most people. A Tesla AI engineer pointed out the technical difficulty behind robot dancing, explaining how it challenges precision, timing, and real-time AI inference. Some users looked ahead, predicting an exciting decade for robotics. But beyond the applause, curious minds had funny questions. One user asked the robot to "go wash the dishes" while another wondered if the robot's abilities could extend beyond the dance floor -- perhaps to complex tasks like managing retail inventory of oddly shaped packages, joking that they'd need to know their savings goal accordingly. Others had quirky realizations -- like the fact that robots might soon need shoes, and perhaps even have brand preferences, sparking a humorous thought: will we one day need to budget for our robot's wardrobe?

Elon Musk proudly shows off dancing video of Tesla's Optimus robot but was left red-faced. Here's why

Elon Musk's Tesla Optimus robot is making strides after a video showing its dance moves is making rounds on social media. By 2025, Tesla plans limited production at its Fremont Factory. Musk also showcased the robots to Saudi royalty and President Trump, even performing a dance. Even though the latest video showing off its flexibility and mobility, but Elon Musk's own AI humanoid bot is not convinced.Elon Musk created quite a stir on social media by posting a clip of the Tesla Optimus humanoid robot busting some groovy dance moves. It showcased both the robot's nimble steps and the leaps the company has made in its tech development. The video posted by Musk reflects the robot's fast feet and the company's progress on the technology. Tesla announced the humanoid Optimus robot back in 2021 during its annual AI Day. To celebrate the announcement, a human dressed as a humanoid robot came out and danced for the crowd at the event. Fast-forward nearly four years, and the robot finally had something to show off. Last year, several Tesla Optimus robots attended the company's "We, Robot" event, where they served drinks and interacted with guests. The Tesla bots also danced in synchronicity with their arms and torsos at the event. Since its inception, Tesla has accelerated its development of the robot project in recent years, now fine-tuning its choreography to add flair and precision to its movements. The latest dance video released by Tesla signals a new chapter in the advancement of humanoid robotics. ALSO READ: This US McDonald's location implements age restrictions, bans all customers under 21 from store Despite the robots advancements, Musk's own Grok AI bot responded to prompts on X (formerly Twitter), asking it to rank the best AI bots in the world. "Ranking the top 5 humanoid robot manufacturers based on real-world test videos as of May 2025: 1. Boston Dynamics (Atlas) - excels in dynamic movements like parkour. 2. Figure AI (Figure 01/02) - deployed in factories, performing autonomous tasks. 3. Agility Robotics (Digit) - used in warehouses for material handling. 4. UBTECH (Walker S1) - active in automotive assembly lines. 5. Tesla (Optimus) - impressive mobility but early in practical application. The field is evolving rapidly, so rankings may shift with new advancements," Grok wrote. According to Tesla's Q1 2025 updated letter, the company has already started limited production of the Optimus bot at its Fremont Factory. Musk said the company plans to produce over 1,000 units of Tesla Optimus for internal use in 2025 and external sales by 2026. Musk claims Tesla Optimus could be "more significant than Tesla's vehicle business," with a value of $25 trillion. Musk believes that by automating low-skill, repetitive jobs, Teslabots could reshape economies around the world. Musk believes it could lead to an "age of abundance" where goods and services are cheaper. ALSO READ: 'Only a fool would...': Trump says $400-mn Qatar jet more 'impressive' than outdated Air Force One Tech mogul Elon Musk got his Tesla Optimus robots to do the Trump dance for Saudi royalty during his visit to the Saudi-US investment forum. Speaking to Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Saudi Arabia, Musk said: "We just showed several of our Tesla Optimus robots to his highness and President Trump, I think they were very impressed, in fact one of our robots did the Trump dance." Musk confirmed that during the high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, Tesla showcased its Optimus humanoid robots to both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Trump. The demonstration included walking, interaction, and even a robotic rendition of the Trump dance, which drew laughs and applause. ALSO READ: Microsoft employee reveals how she was fired in 'last-minute meeting' by super boss Speaking to Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Saudi Arabia, Musk said: "We just showed several of our Tesla Optimus robots to his highness and President Trump, I think they were very impressed, in fact one of our robots did the Trump dance." He went on to say he hopes that one day everyone will have their own personal robot, and compared it to having your own C3PO or R2D2, from the Star Wars movies.

'We're a car company, right?': Tesla's jibe as Elon Musk shares videos of Optmius robot dancing like humans

Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot, can dance like a human, a new video shared by CEO Elon Musk shows. The viral clip, posted on X, features the robot moving with impressive fluidity, flaunting some cool human-like dance moves. The official Twitter handle of Tesla humorously questioned the company's identity as primarily a car manufacturer.Tech billionaire Elon Musk knows how to dominate headlines. When he posts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the world pays attention. Whether he's tweeting about space travel, artificial intelligence, or his turbulent relationship with Donald Trump, the billionaire behind rockets and electric cars has a knack for dominating online discourse. This time, it's about a dancing robot. On his X account - now called "gorklon rust" - Musk posted a short clip of Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, executing a dance. The caption was minimal: just an emoji of a dancing man. Later, replying to his own post, Musk added a clarification: "This is real, real-time." The clip, which featured Optimus shifting weight, rotating its limbs and mimicking rhythmic human movement, instantly went viral. While many viewers expressed astonishment, others were skeptical. "Is this real or AI-created?" one X user asked in a reply. The question drew immediate attention. Musk shared multiple videos of Optimus, Tesla's humanoid robot, dancing like humans. Musk shared videos of the robot dancing, showcasing its advanced capabilities in real-time movement and balance. Commenting on one such video, he wrote: "This is real real-time". "Optimus will perform ballet perfectly," the Tesla CEO wrote in a Twitter post. "This is still very far from our final form," Musk said in another post on Twitter. X's integrated AI chatbot, Grok, offered its analysis. According to Grok, the clip aligned with Optimus's known capabilities, citing past public demonstrations like the We,Robot event in October 2024 and internal updates released by Tesla as recently as April 2025. ALSO READ: Sean Diddy Combs' trial: High profile names like Britney Spears, Michael B. Jordan emerge, shocking details revealed In a playful post quoting a video of the Optimus robot dancing, Tesla's official Twitter account jokingly questioned whether the company is still primarily a car manufacturer, writing, "We're a car company, right?" Since the debut of its first prototype in 2022, the Tesla Optimus robot has shown remarkable improvements in agility and expressiveness. This latest demonstration is part of Tesla's broader push into AI and robotics, underscored by events like the "We, Robot" showcase, where Optimus has previously performed synchronized dances -- highlighting a focus on both functionality and expressive movement. Elon Musk has stated that Optimus is expected to handle a variety of everyday tasks in the future, with limited production slated for 2025. Tesla first introduced the concept of a humanoid robot in 2021 during AI Day. At the time, there was no prototype, and the event featured a human dressed as a robot dancing. Fast forward to this day, Tesla's Optimus has evolved significantly and can perform real-world tasks. The first true glimpse of Optimus came in 2022, when Tesla debuted semi-functional prototypes at AI Day, where the robot demonstrated basic walking and arm movements. ALSO READ: Justin Bieber breaks silence on if he was a Sean Diddy victim amid latter's bombshell sex trafficking trial By 2023, Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 had advanced to handle more complex activities, such as sorting colored blocks, holding yoga poses, and even performing dance routines. The robot's hands were also upgraded to offer 11 degrees of movement, with future versions aiming for 22 degrees. Elon Musk has described the Optimus robot as one of Tesla's most significant innovations. Unlike traditional robots that operate based on pre-set instructions, Optimus is designed to learn from real-world experience and simulations, enabling it to act independently. This capability positions Optimus as a breakthrough in human-robot collaboration, particularly in manufacturing. With applications across various industries, it could tap into a potential $25 trillion market and support sustainability efforts by taking on physically demanding, labor-intensive roles.

Elon Musk Says Mohammed Bin Salman And Trump Were 'Impressed' With Tesla Optimus As The Humanoid Robot Danced To 'YMCA' - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Tesla Inc. TSLA CEO Elon Musk revealed that both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump were impressed by the company's Optimus humanoid robot during a demonstration in Riyadh, where the robot danced to "YMCA." What Happened: "We just showed several of our Tesla Optimus robots to His Highness and President Trump, and I think they were very impressed," Musk said at a Saudi economic forum. "In fact, one of our robots did the Trump dance, which I thought was pretty cool." The "Trump dance" refers to a signature dance move Trump has performed at rallies, often to the song "YMCA." The demonstration comes as Tesla officially begins selling its vehicles in Saudi Arabia, with a launch event showcasing its global lineup, including the Cybercab and Optimus robots. The expansion marks a significant shift in relations between Musk and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which were previously strained during Tesla's "funding secured" controversy in 2018. See Also: How To Earn $500 A Month From Cisco Stock Ahead Of Q3 Earnings Musk predicted a future where humanoid robots would become ubiquitous, comparing them to "personal C-3PO or R2-D2" assistants from Star Wars. "My prediction for humanoid robots is that ultimately there will be tens of billions," he said. "I think everyone will want to have their own personal robot." Get StartedStart Futures Trading Fast -- with a $200 Bonus Join Plus500 today and get up to $200 to start trading real futures. Practice with free paper trading, then jump into live markets with lightning-fast execution, low commissions, and full regulatory protection. Get Started The billionaire entrepreneur emphasized the economic potential of robotics, suggesting they could create "an economy 10 times the size of the current global economy" and lead to "universal high income." Why It Matters: Despite Musk's optimism, Tesla faces challenges in Optimus production. During the company's recent earnings call, Musk acknowledged supply chain constraints, including China's new export restrictions on rare earth magnets essential for the robot's actuators. The Saudi expansion aligns with the kingdom's ambitious plans to produce 500,000 battery-powered vehicles by 2030. Image Via Shutterstock Read Next: Microsoft To Cut 6,000 Jobs Globally Amid AI-Driven Shift, Says Changes Necessary To 'Best Position The Company For Success' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. TSLATesla Inc$338.551.34%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum93.67Growth45.26Quality85.33Value8.66Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Elon Musk shares Tesla's Optimus robot dancing with human-like agility - VnExpress International

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shared a new video of the company's Optimus humanoid robot performing fluid dance moves with balance and coordination similar to a human's. The six-second clip, posted on Musk's X account on May 13, shows the robot swaying rhythmically and moving its arms and legs with fluidity. Musk noted the video was filmed in real time. The robot's confident and controlled movements mark a clear improvement over earlier demos, which were more hesitant and jerky, according to tech outlet Interesting Engineering. Milan Kovac, identified as an Optimus engineer in his X profile, reshared Musk's post and wrote: "More coming shortly! The team has been working very hard in the background." He said the robot was trained entirely in simulation using reinforcement learning, a technique where AI learns through trial and error in virtual environments. Kovac added that Tesla had introduced numerous "optimizations and fixes" to its sim-to-real transfer process, widely regarded as a major challenge in robotics. He also clarified that the visible cable in the video was "there in case of a fall (not holding the bot)," as the performance was still an early-stage result. This latest demo follows previous milestones for Optimus, including a 2022 walking prototype and later updates showing it sorting objects, lifting items, and navigating slopes.