How much will Elon Musk’s do-it-all Optimus Gen 2 humanoid cost you? And is it worth it?

Elon Musk has once again made headlines, this time with his groundbreaking announcement regarding the Tesla Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot. During the We, Robot Tesla event held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, Musk unveiled the Optimus Gen 2, claiming it will be able to "do anything" — from walking your dog to mowing your lawn and even babysitting your children.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway from the event was Musk’s revelation about the estimated cost of this revolutionary bot. He confidently stated that the Optimus Gen 2 will eventually cost around $20,000 to $30,000 (around Rs 16-25 lakhs) or even less as production scales. To put this into perspective, this price point is similar to many cars.

On the surface, this seems surprisingly affordable for a cutting-edge, humanoid robot that promises to handle daily chores, but it’s important to remember that this is a long-term prediction. The timeline to achieve this scale of production and bring the cost down remains unclear, and early adopters may find themselves paying significantly more for the initial models.

At this price, is it worth investing in an Optimus Gen 2? Musk believes it will be a “household staple” and the “biggest product ever.” With Tesla’s reputation for innovation, it’s not hard to see the potential impact.
Then again, Musk is known for his lofty promises, and while the idea of a robot handling everyday chores is certainly appealing, there are plenty of reasons to be sceptical. Can a $20,000 robot really perform complex tasks reliably, or will it end up being a glorified toy? Tesla’s track record with delivering on deadlines and functionality has been mixed, with delays and technical issues plaguing several of its past products.

Moreover, the idea that Optimus could become a “household staple” feels overly optimistic. Not every household is going to be eager to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a robot that might not even live up to its promises. Even if the price does come down in the future, it’s still a significant investment for technology that could face many teething problems in its early iterations.

For now, all we can do is hope that Mr Musk’s vision comes to life — if only so we never have to worry about taking out the trash in time ever again.