On October 11, Tesla held a “We Robot” event. It showcased Musk’s style: he arrived late, made a dramatic entrance, and talked big. He focused on the future of humanity. He claimed it would be “historic.” The visuals impressed, but the core message fell short.
Many people eagerly await Tesla’s Model 2. They express disappointment and criticize Tesla for losing focus. This misunderstands Musk. He sells not cars or energy storage. He sells dreams. This overlaps with Hollywood. However, Hollywood clearly tells the audience it is just a dream. Musk insists, “This is not a dream.” It is the future.
From a technical perspective, the items at the launch event feel familiar. The Cybercab and Robovan represent the Robotaxi concept. The Optimus humanoid robot joins them. Over a decade ago, Japan marketed various home service robots and robotic dogs. However, those lacked the impact of this launch event. The difference lies in the presentation. If we view these visuals as the externalization of AI, then Musk’s event stands out as unique.
Cybercabs lined up. Robots entered in sequence. Robots danced. Bartenders mixed drinks. Housekeeping services demonstrated. Nearby streets and buildings glowed with khaki lights. These lights matched the gold of the Cybercabs and the LED displays. Everything hinted at a future in the making. Almost all car and tech companies shouted about AI. Even the Nobel Prize could not escape this trend. Yet, only Musk’s current show expressed it vividly and perfectly to the public. He showed everyone what AI is, without requiring any prior knowledge. His communication and public relations skills stand unmatched. His ability to sell concepts is hard to rival in both tech and industry.
Musk made promises. He plans to produce Cybercab by 2025. The ticket price may be cheaper than public transport. The mass-produced Optimus robot will cost between $20,000 and $30,000. These are just dreams. If produced in the U.S., it is impossible from an engineering perspective. To succeed, he needs help from China to build production capacity there. However, with the U.S. and China at odds, any digital product may threaten U.S. national security. The U.S. will not accept Chinese-made robots in its market. This will create an awkward situation for Musk. Under Musk, Tesla only escaped production hell and Wall Street’s relentless shorting after opening a factory in China in 2019. Without the Lingang factory, Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian would be minor players. Musk tried to replicate the Lingang model in Germany. He faced many challenges that affected his mindset. Recently, the sick leave rate reached 30%.
Without engineering, Musk’s idea is clear. He envisions an AI ecosystem centered on computing power and data mining. He aims to build multiple large models. He plans to double or even quintuple parameters within a few years. The focus shifts from manpower, scenarios, and rules to using a data flywheel for model training. This approach enables rapid AI iteration.
Currently, robots awkwardly mimic dance, housekeeping, and bartending. This system will evolve. It will gain real abilities. Users can also help it evolve. This sets it apart from Japanese robot products.
The low-cost, on-demand charging Robotaxis look impressive. They fit into the smart city concept. This concept relies heavily on government organization and investment. Large-scale deployment of charging modules underground is possible only in China. Currently, Robotaxis appear good, but their takeover rates are far from ideal, even within geofenced areas. Only in a scenario with fully autonomous traffic can Robotaxis achieve optimal efficiency. Elon Musk’s vision of a highly AI-driven lifestyle can only find commercial viability in China. That is the core issue.