If you haven’t heard of the new Tesla Bot from its debut at this year’s Tesla AI Day, you have probably seen the comical and awkward video that brought it into the eye of the internet. Clips of the introduction of the Tesla Bot featuring a man dressed in a robot costume performing some kind of awkward yet entertaining interpretative and potentially improvised dance moves have taken the internet by storm. Perhaps this was Elon’s intention in maximizing marketing and ensuring the newest AI technology from Tesla is viewed as something more lighthearted than what we’ve come to expect from science fiction movies that cast humanoid robots as unstable and dangerous.

What is Tesla Bot?

Tesla Bot is the latest and greatest technology being developed by Tesla — what, you didn’t think they just built cars, did you? In fact, Tesla has been building solar charging stations, battery packs that can power your entire home as well as charge your car, and even electric semi-trucks. The Tesla Bot itself is just the average bipedal, humanoid robot that we’ve been seeing in science fiction movies for years come to life, which undoubtedly leaves some feeling a bit uneasy. The purpose of the Bot is to perform tasks that are repetitive and mundane, allowing humans to tackle the more important tasks at hand.

“Develop the next generation of automation, including a general purpose, bi-pedal, humanoid robot capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring. We’re seeking mechanical, electrical, controls and software engineers to help us leverage our AI expertise beyond our vehicle fleet.”

Tesla

What to expect from the Tesla Bot

We haven’t heard much from Elon Musk about the Tesla Bot as of yet, at least in the way of pricing and availability, though it will likely need many more prototypes and tests before it is released into the world. The nearly 130 lb robot measures in at 5′ 8″. The reveal itself was rather unexpected, taking the stage at this year’s Tesla AI Day. The Tesla Bot fits in well with the weird and futuristic offerings from the pioneering company, and while Tesla is mostly known for its electric cars, their steady advancements in technology serve many purposes outside of the automotive realm.

Doing the robot dance…as a robot?

The Tesla Bot itself was really just a man dressed up like a robot doing a rather uncomfortable dance. While it wasn’t inappropriate by any means, it definitely gives viewers a sense of second-hand embarrassment for sure. If you’ve kept up with Elon Musk and his late-night Twitter feed, this awkward display isn’t all that surprising, but it does serve its purpose to garnish attention and bring awareness to the new Tesla Bot — which will not be a person dressed up in a robot costume dancing.

With Elon Musk at the helm, there is no doubt that Tesla will continue to create new and innovative technologies, and the bot only works to reinforce the brand for its user-friendly nature and desire to entertain, as we’ve seen with so many unnecessary Easter Eggs in many Tesla vehicles. The Tesla Bot display here may be rather cringe-worthy, but it does stir up attention in an enjoyable and entertaining way nonetheless.