Tesla has released a new demonstration video showcasing the progress of its humanoid robot, Optimus. The video, shared on Monday night by Elon Musk, shows Optimus performing a dance routine, highlighting improvements in the robot’s balance, coordination, and motion control, reflecting the latest advancements in the company’s robotics program.
The clip shows Optimus executing a series of dance movements reminiscent of Fred Astaire, while attached to a safety cable. According to Tesla, the cable is present as a precaution during early-stage demonstrations to catch Optimus if it were to fumble, but is not actively supporting the robot’s movements. Milan Kovac, part of Tesla’s Optimus Engineering and AI team, explained that the dance sequence was entirely trained in simulation using reinforcement learning (RL).
“More coming shortly! The team has been working very hard in the background. Many optimizations and fixes have been put in place in our sim-to-real training code,” Kovac said in a post on X.
— gorklon rust (@elonmusk) May 13, 2025
Progress in Tesla’s Humanoid Robot Development
Optimus was first introduced during Tesla’s AI Day in 2021, initially as a concept aimed at performing repetitive or hazardous tasks. Since then, Tesla has periodically shared updates to illustrate milestones in the robot’s development.
- 2022: Early prototypes demonstrated basic walking and simple tasks, such as lifting and sorting objects.
- 2023: Tesla unveiled Optimus Gen 2 with mechanical improvements, enhanced joint articulation, and the ability to perform controlled movements like yoga poses.
- 2024: Optimus was shown conducting light factory tasks at Tesla facilities, including item sorting and navigating obstacle courses and uneven terrain.
Each demonstration has progressively focused on real-world functionality, with the long-term goal of deploying Optimus units in Tesla’s own manufacturing operations. The company has indicated it plans to begin limited production for internal use in 2025, with potential wider applications in the future.
A little over two and a half years between these two videos.
— Drive Tesla (@DriveTeslaca) May 13, 2025
The rate of progress for @Tesla_Optimus is insane pic.twitter.com/voD5S21f5o
Focus on Simulation-Based Training
A key component of Optimus’s development is Tesla’s reliance on simulation-based training methods. By refining reinforcement learning algorithms in a simulated environment, Tesla aims to accelerate Optimus’s ability to perform complex tasks without extensive physical trial and error.
The recent video reflects incremental but meaningful progress in translating simulated learning into real-world robotic performance. While the dance routine is primarily a demonstration of balance and motion control, it also indicates advancements in Optimus’s ability to manage dynamic movements with stability.
