Elon Musk’s declaration of a humanoid robot “army” by 2027 is more than hyperbole—it’s a blueprint for what could become one of the most transformative shifts in modern technology. Tesla’s expansion into robotics, driven by the Optimus project, has the potential to revolutionize both industrial efficiency and daily human life.

Tesla's Optimus robots will be used to explore the surface of Mars, Elon Musk confirmed today. The humanoid robots, which were initially pitched as household assistants in October last year, will "hopefully" be sent to Mars on a SpaceX flight by the end of 2026.

As a result, humanoid robots are at last beginning to leave the lab and enter the workplace. On April 22nd Elon Musk reasserted during an earnings call that he expects “thousands” of Tesla’s Optimus robots to be working in its electric-car factories by the end of the year.