Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus, currently under development, is set to begin training at the company’s factory in Austin, Texas. Before being fully deployed to perform actual factory tasks, the robot will undergo what can be described as an “apprenticeship period” in a real-world manufacturing environment. On the 24th (local time), Business Insider reported that Tesla plans to begin training Optimus at its Austin facility as early as February to ensure the robot can operate effectively. Tesla has already been training Optimus for more than a year at its Fremont, California, factory.

To support this training, Tesla has hired dozens of so-called “Optimus trainers.” These trainers work on the factory floor wearing specialized equipment, such as helmets fitted with multi-directional cameras and backpack-style gear. Video data captured during their tasks is then used to train the robot to imitate human actions precisely. According to Business Insider, Tesla previously relied on direct human control to train robots, but shifted to imitation learning after finding the earlier method inefficient. Through this training process, Tesla aims to develop humanoid robots capable of performing complex tasks in industrial settings by the end of this year. Elon Musk, Tesla’s Chief Executive Officer, recently stated, “Humanoid robots are already performing simple tasks at Tesla factories,” adding that “by the end of this year, they will be deployed in industrial environments to carry out more complex work.” He went on to say, “By the end of next year, we expect they could be available for sale to the general public.”

(Chosun Ilbo, January 25, 2026)