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.

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.