- The Tesla Android was announced this week by the electric car company during its Tesla AI Day event.
- A prototype is scheduled to launch in 2022, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
- The 5’8″ android will be designed to take charge of “dangerous, repetitive, boring tasks.”
Tesla, which already has AI inside its popular electric vehicles, is taking that aspect to the next level. At the end of the company’s Tesla AI Day presentation on Thursday, it surprised its audience with the announcement of the Tesla Android.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the humanoid android is being made to work in a world made by and built by humans. It should take on tasks that many might consider dangerous, boring, or repetitive. The android itself will be 5’8″ and weigh 125 pounds. Its head will serve as a display to show information. It will also have eight cameras.
Musk stated that the AI programming in the Tesla Android would be an extension of the AI in its cars, which he called “semi-sentient robots on wheels”. Musk added that such an android should, using neural net programming, handle tasks such as picking up groceries or turning a wrench without being trained to do so line by line. He believes that physical activities for humans will become a choice in the future rather than a necessity.
Of course, such an android could have huge effects on society if they succeed in taking over jobs from humans. Those kinds of future scenarios have been the stuff of tons of science fiction stories, movies, and TV shows for decades.
During the brief presentation, Musk said that the Tesla Android was designed to be “friendly.” However, he hinted that some folks might be afraid of such a device. He joked that people should be able to outrun the android. Humans should also “most likely overpower it,” according to Musk. In other words, it won’t be a Terminator cyborg (we hope).