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.

China’s halt this month on exports of magnets containing heavy rare earth metals has affected Tesla’s plans to manufacture Optimus robots.