According to Elon Musk, their official presentation is just around the corner in 2025. They will first be produced for internal use at Tesla — as promised by Musk in a statement on X — to perform “unsafe, repetitive or boring tasks.” They are projected to be available for purchase by 2026. [Joao da Silva and Natalie Sherman, BBC News, July 23, 2024.]

Named “Optimus” (sounds like one of Musk’s children), this rather hunky fellow will have a limited debut, but will ultimately be mass-produced at a projected cost of less than $20,000 each.

Kind of androgynous looking, don’t you think? At least, from what we can see. That’s very 21st Century, and it’s absolutely fine; but I’d be willing to pay a few dollars more if it had a face. And if it turns out to be female, the name needs to be changed to Optima. But we’re still in the development stages, so there’s plenty of time to work out the whole gender identity thing.

I’m actually more concerned about the effect — let’s call him “he,” or “Optimus,” for the sake of this discussion — will have on his co-workers. To begin with, won’t he be replacing some of the very employees who will have worked so hard and so long to create him? And, since he will presumably be capable of working 24/7, without lunch or bathroom breaks, he and his brethren (or sistren) could conceivably replace three workers apiece. Now, at a production cost of well under $20,000, this dude is a bargain for Tesla, and for the other companies who will potentially be racing to “hire” him.

But what does that do to the actual humans who will be replaced in those boring, repetitive jobs? Taking over some of the “dangerous” tasks would be a good thing, but people depend on what are often deadly dull jobs to support themselves and their families. Will they be retrained, perhaps to do maintenance work on all the Optimi (or Optimae, if female) * when they inevitably develop glitches and tics from working those 24/7 shifts?

* NOTE: Since my Latin is very limited, can anyone tell me whether there is a plural ending in the neuter gender in that language? If not, we may have to change Optimus’ name. I rather like Caesar.

And here’s an idea: Perhaps the same humans could do double duty by stepping in to substitute in their former jobs while one or more Optimi/Optimae are in the shop. But then, the employers wouldn’t actually be saving anything on salaries, would they? Although the Optimi/ae wouldn’t need benefit packages . . . except perhaps the mechanical/electronic equivalent of medical coverage. But no dental, no retirement package, no paid vacation or sick leave, and probably no workers’ compensation coverage — although I’d have to check that one in each individual state.

I wonder if Elon Musk knows what a hornet’s nest he’s poking with the introduction of his hunky humanoid brainchild. But then, that seems to be what he does best.

Did you know he’s also working on the development of self-driving cars? Of course, he’s not the only one thinking along those lines, and quite frankly, it’s giving me nightmares. As if traffic on the interstates isn’t treacherous enough!

What we’re going to need are lots of self-driving tow trucks — and some training in first aid and CPR for the Caesars.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/24/24