It’s a Canadian thing, but we do it here in Minnesota, too » « Going nuts over a flute

It’s AI Day

Are you excited? I know I am, but not for the same reasons as Elon Musk. Today he is scheduled to announce the latest greatest news about his Optimus robot, and I expect another colossal pratfall. It’s coming, Musk assures us.

He tweeted in June that Tesla’s second AI Day would be pushed back from August until September 30 “as we may have an Optimus prototype working by then”.

He had earlier tweeted that “many cool updates” could be expected from the AI Day, while the actual purpose of the event is actually “to convince great AI/software/chip talent to join Tesla”, he said on May 18.

Optimus, which was originally known as the Tesla Bot, was first introduced in August 2021 during Tesla’s inaugural AI Day.

You may recall that the grand unveiling last year was of a person in a body stocking dancing. This year, he has announced it with an ominous image of robot claws forming a heart.

He may also announce something about his cybertruck.

I can’t wait to see the demo of that…watching it sink will be so entertaining. I suspect the operative word in that claim is “briefly.” At least it’ll be easy to smash the windows to escape.

He may also drop more hints about his “robotaxi”, which is supposed to come out in 2024. It’s a Tesla car without a steering wheel or pedals that is entirely autonomous. That won’t be entertaining, it’ll be terrifying.

Stay tuned. All this will be announced live on the internet at 8:15pm Central time. I probably won’t pay any attention to it until tomorrow.

For a more grounded take, read Gary Marcus, and keep in mind that Musk has claimed that his Tesla cars are already “semi-sentient”.

Does anyone find that image reassuring or optimistic? It could be the poster for a horror movie.

Further commentary on a Tesla as a boat:

Not recommended.

It’s a Canadian thing, but we do it here in Minnesota, too » « Going nuts over a flute

Comments

  1. wzrd1 says

    Google “Tesla emergency vehicles” in an image search.
    ‘Nuff said. AI in Musk means Artificial Idiocy.
    Or suicidal vehicles…

  7. Reginald Selkirk says

    Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren’t too choppy

    OK, so it will float for a little while. What about propulsion? Are they going to put a propeller on the back just in case someone uses one to for d a river?

  8. consciousness razor says

    A huge tragedy happens in Florida, and that asshole doesn’t waste a minute. He has to peddle his bullshit truck/boat. But of course, actually selling that monstrosity isn’t really the point either. He’s always just looking to attract more investors, because he’s a con artist.

  9. robro says

    In Elon speak “AI” is “Always Inane”.

    I believe that many trucks can serve “briefly” as a boat, enough to cross small streams and shallow lakes, at least as long as the wheels stand on the bed. Floating creates another problem.

    “Cross oceans” is ludicrous. Go along the edge of an ocean, maybe, but “cross”? I dare Elon to prove that Cybertruck can cross an ocean by doing it himself.

  10. Reginald Selkirk says

    @9: I dare Elon to prove that Cybertruck can cross an ocean by doing it himself.

    Good luck to him finding charging stations in the Sargasso Sea.

  11. StevoR says

    I can’t wait to see the demo of that…watching it sink will be so entertaining.

    What if it actually works?

  13. John Morales says

    Does anyone find that image reassuring or optimistic? It could be the poster for a horror movie.

    An AI is a consciousness, not a robot. The image depicts a presumed robot.

    One should be reassured that the consciousness manipulates its environment by controlling a robot rather than by controlling a person.

  15. says

    I watched the first 15 minutes of the demo. It was a dud. They have a robot that walks and waves its arms. There was no demonstration of any intelligence in the machine — it did not interact with anyone or anything.

    And my god, but Musk is a terrible speaker. Just awful.

  16. John Morales says

    PZ, I doubt you’re part of Musk’s target audience.

    (To them, he is an inspirational speaker)