He appeared at Tesla showrooms, factories, and even posed with Kim Kardashian.
But Elon Musk's idea of a humanoid robot, Optimus, is much grander.
Since he first unveiled it at the 2022 Tesla show, the tech billionaire has suggested that his company's droid could play a huge role in the homes and lives of people around the world.
Musk believes Tesla's robots, along with self-driving robotaxis and cybertrucks, are key to securing a foothold in artificial intelligence (AI).
And the investors who signed it Thursday's $1tn (£760bn) payout package appears to be on track.
One of the many tasks Musk must complete to earn his colossal payday is to deliver a million artificial intelligence bots over the next decade.
But is Tesla's big bet on humanoid robots science fiction or reality?
Silicon Valley is actively fighting for humanoids.
A report published by Morgan Stanley on Friday predicted that Apple, which is reportedly exploring robots, could potentially earn $133 billion a year from them by 2040.
Foxconn is reported will implement them at its Nvidia plant in Texas.
The idea of advanced artificial intelligence in a human-like shell is, in theory, a surprisingly powerful combination. This would allow technology to interact with the physical world around it – and yes, that includes us.
While many companies have sought to develop humanoid robots for factory and industrial use, such as British robotics firm Humanoid, some are already looking to bring the technology into homes.
Tech company 1X's much-hyped Neo, slated to launch in 2026, can do menial jobs like emptying the dishwasher, folding clothes, and bringing you things.
It will cost $20,000, but there is one caveat: The WSJ reported that it was actually controlled by a person wearing a virtual reality headset..
Forrester analyst Brian Hopkins said falling component costs, coupled with improvements in robot dexterity and artificial intelligence, are helping make humanoid robots suitable for a variety of environments.
“From warehouses and restaurants to senior care and safety, new use cases are rapidly gaining traction,” he wrote in a blog post.
“If the current trajectory continues, humanoid robots could significantly disrupt many physical services industries by 2030.”
Musk earlier told investors his robots “could eventually become more important than the car business.”
He went further after his pay package deal was approved Thursday, saying he believes it could be “the biggest product of all time, bigger than cell phones, bigger than anything else.”
He also suggested it could boost Tesla's AI ambitions, particularly in developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) systems capable of matching human abilities.
“Tesla's AI could play a role in AGI given that it is training against the outside world, especially with the advent of Optimus,” he posted on X in 2022.
Boston Dynamics' hydraulic humanoid Atlas has captivated millions of people on YouTube with its gymnastics and dance routines.
Viral videos of his leaps, jumps, somersaults and backflips showcased advances in robotics over the years. Scientists are now taking advantage of the artificial intelligence boom to expand their capabilities with systems that allow them to perform more complex tasks.
When was this retired last yearit has been replaced by a newer, all-electric model, which the developers say could distort its metal frame even further.
But many roboticists the BBC has spoken to over the years have rolled their eyes at tech firms making robots that look like humans.
Practically exists little reason why robots have legs.
The mechanics and equipment used to create machine supports are much more labor intensive.
As one scientist put it, “wheels are much more efficient.”
And don't make them tell you why a robot doesn't need a head.
However, from a psychological point of view, humanoids have long been of interest to people – and this reflects decades of science fiction.
You only have to look at the legacy of characters like C-3PO from Star Wars, Bender from Futurama, or the Terminator to see that people can sometimes feel more comfortable around someone who is very similar to us.
In reality, humanoid machines were often far less polished and more useless, clunky, and glitchy than their fictional counterparts.
But that seems to be changing with the arrival of Optimus and sleeker droids that bring us closer to life in the uncanny valley.
Recently, Tesla's droid has begun to appear in more public places – serving hamburgers and popcorn to customers at a Hollywood snack company..
Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, said in May that he doesn't think the world is ready for humanoids, while describing it as a coming moment.
There's no love lost between him and Elon Musk, but in this case they seem to be on the same wavelength as robots, and Musk definitely has the power, influence and money to make it happen.
