Tesla's Optimus Robot Demonstrated Bartending, Targets 2025 Internal Deployment

Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, recently demonstrated various capabilities, including bartending, as the company targets internal deployment within its factories by 2025. The robot's potential has captured public imagination, with one social media user, Robin, exclaiming, "Oh wtf is will be so cool! Optimus working as a bartender!!" This development underscores Tesla's ambitious push into advanced robotics.

Designed as a general-purpose bipedal machine, Optimus is intended to handle tasks deemed "dangerous, repetitive, and boring." Beyond factory applications, Elon Musk envisions the robot performing diverse roles, from domestic chores to providing companionship and service. Public demonstrations have showcased its ability to walk, balance, sort objects, and execute dexterous manipulations, such as handling delicate items like eggs.

While the bartending display at the October 2024 "We, Robot" event reportedly utilized teleoperation, Tesla is rapidly advancing Optimus's autonomy. The company plans to produce several thousand units for internal use this year, aiming to refine the robot's performance in real-world manufacturing settings. External sales to other companies are projected to begin in the second half of 2026, with Musk estimating a future price range of $20,000 to $30,000 per unit, potentially dropping to $10,000 at mass production scale.

Optimus is powered by the same advanced AI system found in Tesla's autonomous vehicles, relying on deep learning, computer vision, and neural networks for its operations. The robot learns through observation and teleoperation, continuously enhancing its skills. However, the project faces ongoing skepticism regarding its full autonomous capabilities and Tesla's history of ambitious timelines. A recent lawsuit filed by Tesla in June 2025 against a former engineer for alleged theft of Optimus trade secrets further highlights the complexities in this competitive field.

Despite these challenges, Musk maintains a highly optimistic outlook, forecasting that Optimus could become Tesla's most valuable product, generating trillions in revenue. As Tesla moves from prototype development to large-scale internal application, the real-world performance and adaptability of Optimus will be critical. The successful transition of this general-purpose humanoid robot into diverse practical roles, including those like bartending, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of AI and robotics.