Tesla is paying workers Rs 4,000 an hour to train its Optimus humanoid robots how to walk

Tesla is taking significant steps in its quest to develop humanoid robots, known as Optimus, by actively recruiting workers to help gather essential data. The company, led by Elon Musk, is offering up to $48 an hour for roles that involve collecting movement data to train these AI-powered robots, which are designed to handle tasks in Tesla’s factories.

The job listings, available on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Tesla’s website, describe positions for “data collection operators.” These workers will wear motion-capture suits and virtual reality headsets to simulate the movements the robots will eventually perform. As per the job listing, applicants must be able to walk for over at least seven hours a day. Applicants also need to be between 5’7″ and 5’11″ in order to operate the motion-capture suits that Tesla will be providing. The pay for this physically gruelling job will be between $25.25 and $48 per hour, which roughly translates to Rs 2000-4000.

The Vision Behind Optimus
The Optimus project, which Tesla introduced in 2021, is part of a broader push toward automation in industries where labour shortages and the need for efficiency have become increasingly urgent. Tesla envisions these robots taking over tasks that are considered unsafe, repetitive, or just plain boring for human workers.

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Earlier this year, Tesla shared a video showing the early stages of this work. In the video, employees in motion-capture suits mimic basic movements like lifting and placing objects, while nearby, the Optimus robots mirror these actions using real items. The robots were also seen practising other tasks on their own, such as walking and folding laundry.

Despite the excitement around the project, the road hasn’t been entirely smooth. When Tesla first unveiled a prototype of the robot, called Bumble C, in 2022, the response was lukewarm. Some experts in the field were underwhelmed, expecting more from a company known for pushing the envelope. However, Tesla has continued to develop the project, and recent reports suggest that the robots are beginning to show promise, including successfully performing autonomous tasks in Tesla facilities.

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Challenges and Competition Ahead
Elon Musk has high hopes for the Optimus robots, seeing them as a key part of Tesla’s future. He has even speculated that these robots could help propel Tesla to a staggering $25 trillion market valuation, far beyond its current worth. Musk imagines a world where billions of these robots are in use, not just in factories but in homes and other industries, too.

However, Tesla isn’t the only player in the game. Other companies are also racing to develop AI-powered robots. For instance, Figure, a robotics firm backed by big names like Microsoft and Jeff Bezos, has already secured significant funding and struck deals to bring its robots into real-world applications, such as assisting in BMW’s car manufacturing.

This competition highlights the tough road ahead for Tesla. Developing robots at scale is a complex and costly endeavour. Experts have pointed out that gathering enough data to refine these robots could require massive investments, and even then, there’s no guarantee of success.

Tesla’s Optimus project is ambitious, and while the company has made progress, the journey to making these robots a staple in industries worldwide is just beginning. It’s a bold move, but whether it pays off remains to be seen.