Tesla’s Optimus Robot: How Could it Reshape The Future of Work and Skills?

10th October 2024 was a big day. Not only was it the FE + Skills Collective, Elon Musk had a cool event as well, called “We, Robot,” unveiling the new Robotaxi called Cybercab, a Robovan carrying 20 people and Elon then gave an update on the Optimus Robot, which is what I am incredibly excited about. If Optimus can deliver on the promises made at the “We, Robot” launch, it could be groundbreaking for everyone across the world. What could this mean for the future of work and the skills for those jobs of the future?

Imagine a World where Optimus is as common as an iPhone

After the FE + Skills Collective, where we were thinking about (and now waiting on the report), on how we equip our educators and leaders for our stronger skills system. At this time, when Optimus is not yet available for companies, schools, colleges, individuals to buy, do we also need to be thinking about Skills Strategies in a different way as technology advances? Do we need to be thinking about skills strategies and essential skills for cobots?

The iPhone was launched in 2007, so 17 years ago. That isn’t long and look how they have transformed our World. Now imagine a walking, talking, autonomous, GenAI and packed full of machine learning cobot as common as an iPhone in 17 years time! It is a bit mind blowing!

Elon Musk is banking on Optimus being popular, like very popular: “I think this will be the biggest product ever of any kind, because I think everyone of the 8 billion people of Earth, I think everyone’s going to want their Optimus buddy. And there’s going to be maybe two.”

A year earlier at the AI Safety Summit, then PM Rishi Sunak, interestingly interviewed Elon Musk about the impact of AI on jobs, he said: “AI was the most disruptive force in history… and that there will come a point when no job is needed. You can have a job if you want a job, but AI will be able to do everything”.

So could Optimus replace, you, me, in our jobs?

First thing Elon Musk said Optimus could be is a teacher… and last, it could serve you drinks!

We really need to start thinking of this now, as when Elon Musk described the Tesla Optimus Robot at the “We, Robot” event, the very first thing he mentioned was ‘it can be a teacher’ when describing Optimus:

“It’ll basically do anything you want. It can be a teacher or babysit your kids, it can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks whatever you can think of, it will do”.

What is Optimus and how can it affect Skills and the future of work?

Optimus is a humanoid robot produced by Tesla, it is a walking, talking robot, equipped with AI and machine learning, Optimus is designed to learn from humans and support humans. It is physically planned to measure 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall and weigh 57 kg, it has a carrying capacity 20 kg. In May 2024, a Twitter update shared Optimus performing various tasks at a Tesla factory. Optimus is already at Generation 2, and it hasn’t been released on sale as yet.

So what does this mean for the future of work and the skills for the jobs of the future?

Optimus is incredibly impressive, video that is floating around the web and socials… which blew my mind. It stirred me to write this article and thoughts out, as they were buzzing around my brain. Now if this is fully autonomous and not ‘smoke and mirrors’ remotely tethered to a remote operator… then this is out of this world incredible, the processing speed and seeing live machine learning, is immense.

Now, if this is real, not a total fake… we need to be thinking deeply about skills strategies for humans, but also cobots. At the “We, Robot” event, there were Optimus robots serving drinks, dancing, chatting with people. This is incredible!

You thought ChatGPT was a game changer!

Now ChatGPT was a total game changer and Generative AI (GenAI) is a total game changer… from supporting educators with lesson planning, to re-thinking exams and assessments… but Add GenAI capabilities into a humanoid robot, it can help you not just with words, but it can actually do stuff. Even Elon Musk said Optimus could be a teacher, mow your lawn. This is like sci-fi coming to life. If you think of something you want to buy, Optimus could literally order it on Amazon, or even pop down the road for you and pick it up.

What does this mean to the World of Work? What does this mean for the future of Education?

Elon Musk, love him, or hate him, the guy is an innovator and genius. PayPal transformed digital payments and is basically a model we all use under different brands whenever we buy online. Tesla has made such a huge difference in electric car uptake.. and they are cool. Tesla Batteries or Powerwalls, to storage of electricity, the new Optimus looks a bit like a mini Tesla Powerwall on its chest. If Elon co-founded PayPal, you can bet your life Optimus can make transactions on your behalf one day. Starlink (the constellation of satellites that creates wifi access anywhere in the world), would also mean Optimus is able to be connected digitally anywhere in the World.

The rise of the Cobot. So what does this mean longer term?

If a Optimus Robot is going to be $20,000 – $30,000 each, once built at scale. This is incredible, you have a robot that is cheaper than a member of staff (depending on where this is in the World). If it can be a teacher or teaching assistant… what does this mean for the future of Education?

Could Optimus be a game changer as a Teaching Assistant or assisting in Personalised Learner Support

Aftab Hussain from Bolton College has been working on Chatbots (like Ada) for years now (5 years ago+) he was writing about Ada on FE News… but this was as a virtual learning assistant. Optimus is in the physical, with the power of GenAI in the present. Ada has been transformative for learners, supporting them, helping educators spot patterns and trends with learners early. Imagine what an Optimus could do, would we need one each, or how many people could an Optimus provide support to?

Charles McIntyre has been discussing Cobots since 2019 (again 5 years + ago)… but this is the now. What is interesting is that Charles McIntyre is now also discussing things like Organoid Intelligence (OI) and how OI will enable even faster learning capabilities. The fourth industrial revolution has just got started.. we are in the steam stage, soon it will hit nuclear capabilities.

What could an Optimus robot do or deliver to assist Neurodiverse Learners, or for those who can afford it provide one to one learning support. Dan Fitzpatrick wrote a piece in Forbes recently about what Optimus could mean for Education. In Dan’s article in Forbes he highlights that 44% of K-12 teachers feel burnt out and explores how Optimus could transform classrooms of the future.

Will students try and ‘jail break’ Optimus?

All AI and particularly GenAI has safety measures built in… but when ChatGPT was launched, a lot of people were trying to ‘jail break’ the GenAI from it’s safety measures. Now have you ever been in a room with a supply teacher, students act differently, to put it mildly! Will students, all that collective intelligence try and ‘jail break’ their classroom Optimus, you can bet your life they will. So how do we build in an ensure not just ‘factory setting’ safety measures, but enhanced safety for any Optimus or Cobot used in Education environments? Does Optimus enable ‘layering’ of security, skills and more?

Do we need to think deeply about security, safeguarding before Optimus is unleashed on our learners?

Now as Dan Fitzpatrick mentioned, teacher burnout is real. Could Optimus take away some of the admin burden? GenAI is already helping with that on lesson planning and supporting educators… but Optimus is in the physical, do we need to be thinking of safeguarding for our kids, our adult learners, the vulnerable… us all? Optimus is a walking, talking humanoid robot with advanced AI and machine learning, it is constantly learning. Like many of us get home and moan about work politics or even our students, how do we ensure we don’t have humanoid robots ‘learning’ to be jaded by humans, rather than 100% support us?

Elon Musk said, be kind to the Optimus when people were allowed to mingle with the cobots. Was he highlighting something, eg, they are learning and this is a mass learning or large language model opportunity for the Optimus, I wonder if the Optimus’ once back at their HQ, did they behave or act differently after a mass engagement with drunken tech geeks? It would be interesting to know?

What could Optimus mean for skills levels and future job roles?

If Optimus can easily mow the lawn, or babysit, what does this mean for skills planning for the future? A few weeks ago in the UK, the PM announced new Foundation Apprenticeships at Level 2. In 5-10 years time, will skills at these levels be needed, or could an Optimus step in to do these lower skills level roles? Eg Optimus can easily serve drinks, manual labour, you can easily put it into dangerous or physically toxic environments. Do we need to be thinking hard now, about what skills levels we prioritise? Is this an extension of our global Industrial Strategies, do we need cobot skills strategies?

Do we need Essential Skills, do Cobots as well?

At the recent GLLS conference in Singapore, OECD shared that the productivity levels raise dramatically when AI is leveraged for lower level skills and bridging the gap between lower level skilled workers and higher level skills employees. What would happen when you introduce GenAI and a Robot into the mix?

Glenda Quintini, Head of Skills and Future Readiness Division at the OECD explained how AI Literacy is collaboratively working with robots is key to the future, but wow, things are speeding up! At the moment, everyone (including me), is very impressed that an Optimus can talk at a superficial level, and walk …. But for a co-worker, I expect a bit more than walking and talking at the same time, to be impressed with them. Optimus is Gen2. What will Gen3 or 4 be like, will it take an age.. or will this be a rapid movement?

Will there be more specialist Optimus editions in the future or will they remain Inter Disciplinary?

Will future Generations of Optimus be around more specialist areas? Eg In collaboration with A construction body, here is Construction Optimus, or an endorsed Teaching Optimus, therapy Optimus… think of Barbie, but a lot more expensive (Construction Barbie, Nurse Barbie). Elon Musk is a business man, he will want to explore ways to make money on this once everyone has an Optimus!

Do we need to be thinking about how we are training Optimus, AI and GenAI?

Will the ultimate Optimus be the Inter-Disciplinary or Inter-sectionality Cobot? Eg you can drop it into a disaster zone, it can build a bridge, repair houses and also administer medicines to those affected? Optimus has potential to be a real game changer. My point is, do we need to be thinking now about developing skills and learning for AI and cobots when they are able to move among us? No point having a useless cobot!

One thing that has stood out to me, is that Elon Musk, even when talking to Rishi Sunak at the AI Safety Summit the year prior (and at the same time as our first FE Collective looking at AI and Investing in the Sector of the future), Musk mentions how AI and Robots could be a friend, a friend who knows you deeply. This is really talking about layering Emotional Intelligence on top of GenAI, if this is the case. This is incredible.

Do we need to think about how we accredit skills to Optimus or future cobots?

Now we have awarding organisations accredit qualifications of learners and at different levels. These are tried, tested and trusted. Who is going to accredit the skills levels of cobots and how?

If they are going to come alongside us and work and teach us, we need to know their levels of competence or excellence. Who will accredit this?. This is potentially a HUGE market opportunity if several billion Optimus or cobots could be in existence in 20 years. Or 17 years if we track the growth of the iphone in our everyday use? Is there potentially a MASSIVE opportunity for Awarding Organisations, it seems like a way off, but is it? Once the Optimus is out in general circulation, is the opportunity lost with accrediting skills, competence levels?

Qualifications or Accreditation for Cobots and Optimus?

This needs deep thinking? How do you then also continually assess the skills and competences, as it is built in with machine learning, how is this different from cobot lifelong learning? Is this built in from the ground up on how Optimus learns … as this is machine learning. How much thought, or how big a potential opportunity is there here?

Digital Divide

I recently met Daniel Baril from Unesco talking about the importance of turning digital divides into digital dividends, but also transforming how we train AI, particularly to enrich AI with many different language models or videos to train AI from different perspectives. What could be done with an Optimus?

Also, could this stretch a divide across the World. I met Isabel Segovia Ospina, the Education Secretary for Bogota, Colombia recently and she explained the importance of digital infrastructure. What about those people or nations that couldn’t afford an Optimus, what does this mean for the future of work? Like other industrial revolutions, will this great massive divides in worth and privilege across the World?

Optimus – what does this mean to productivity, future skills and digital divides?

Productivity is bound to increase with your own personal Optimus to support you. At the moment the theory is that an Optimus would last 8 hours on a charge… but if you had it plugged in at a factory, could it potentially go on for ever, how long do parts last?

From GLLS2024 the biggest outcome for me was that the Essential AI skills are communication and Emotional Intelligence, with Optimus’ progress coming along at a rate of knots… how can we ensure we are ready?

Are Skills Policies still stuck in the past?

Do we need to be future proofing our skills policies, thinking ahead for 10 -20 year cycles, not just 4-5 year election cycles? How do we make these changes to ensure that we are thinking big picture long term, whoever is voted into power?

As in 10 years time, the future of work will look very different to now? Optimus or not, we need to prepare for a future where AI, GenAI, Cobots will be supporting everyone in their education, their work and also their leisure time. How do we develop the skills system to support this and not be replaced by Optimus?

Do we need to be thinking about down sides of Optimus, what could this mean for worklessness?

At the moment, we have around 900,000 NEETs, or 12%’ish of 16-24 year olds not in education or training. To re-quote Musk: “there will come a point when no job is needed. You can have a job if you want a job, but AI will be able to do everything”. So what does this mean? I personally don’t buy it! AI couldn’t do my job.. ha, ha.. it would probably do it better! .. but what does this mean for us and thinking about skills, employability, worklessness? I think we need to have a serious debate on this. What does Optimus mean for the digital divide and the impact on the third world?

What does potentially several billion humanoid robots mean for the carbon footprint impact on the planet, they are a bit bigger than several billion smart phones!

So many questions, but it is exciting, it is scary… but better to ask the questions now, think deeply now, than regret doing so later as we were distracted by that really important notification on our iPhone! I personally think there is a MASSIVE opportunity here, not for tech geeks, but for the professionals who support employability, the skills for the jobs of the future and those who are experts in accrediting skills, competence and excellence. It is exciting, how do we grab this opportunity for us in Further Education, Skills and Employability?

By Gavin O’Meara, CEO and Founder FE News and FE Careers

Here is the full transcript of the “We, Robot” speech from Elon Musk on the 10th October 2024. As Elon Musk can often be quoted, misquoted, you love him or hate him… so here is the full transcript, to keep it real:

Tesla Optimus Robot transcript from “We, Robot” 10th October 2024:

“Speaking of robots. Everything we’ve developed for our cars, the batteries, power electronics, the advanced motors, gearboxes, the software, the AI inference computer, it all actually applies to a humanoid robot. The same techniques. It’s just a robot with arms and legs instead of a robot with wheels.

“We’ve made a lot of progress with Optimus. And as you can see, we started up with someone in a robot suit. And then, we’ve progressed dramatically, year after year. So, if you extrapolate this, you’re really going to have something spectacular, something that anyone could own. So, you can have your own personal R2-D2-C3PO. And I think at scale, this would cost something like, I don’t know, $20,000, $30,000, probably less than a car is my prediction, long-term. It’ll take us a minute to get to the long term. But fundamentally, at scale, the Optimus robot, you should be able to buy an Optimus robot for, I think, probably $20,000 to $30,000, long-term.

“And what can it do? It’ll basically do anything you want. It can be a teacher or babysit your kids, it can walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks whatever you can think of, it will do. And, yeah, it’s going to be awesome. I think this will be the biggest product ever of any kind, because I think everyone of the 8 billion people of Earth, I think everyone’s going to want their Optimus buddy. And there’s going to be maybe two. And then, they’ll be producing products and services. I predict, actually, provided we address risks of digital superintelligence, 80% probability of good outcome, look on the bright side, the cup is 80% full, the cost of products and services will decline dramatically. And basically, anyone will be able to have any products and services they want.

“It will be an age of abundance the likes of which people have not, almost no one has envisioned. It will be something special. So now, one of the things we wanted to show tonight was that Optimus is not a canned video. It’s not walled off. The Optimus robots will walk among you. Please, please be nice to the Optimus robots. You’ll be able to walk right up to them and they’ll serve drinks at the bar. I mean, it’s a wild experience just to have humanoid robots and they’re there, you’re just in front of you. “