On November 29, 2024, Tesla Inc. announced a significant upgrade to its humanoid robot, Optimus, which now features new hands capable of catching a tennis ball. This enhancement coincides with Neuralink's recent FDA approval for its CONVOY Study, allowing the testing of its Brain-to-Computer (BCI) N1 Implant with assistive robotic arms like those of Optimus.
During a Neuralink update in July, CEO Elon Musk suggested that Optimus' limbs could work in conjunction with the N1 implant. Neuralink plans to enable participants to enroll in both the CONVOY and PRIME studies, the latter having already allowed two patients to control devices using their thoughts.
Musk indicated earlier this year that the new hands of Optimus aim to achieve 22 degrees of freedom, close to the 27 degrees found in human hands. In October, Tesla showcased Optimus' ability to navigate autonomously within a factory, avoid obstacles, and interact with humans.
Despite challenges in refining Optimus' design for mass production, Musk remains optimistic about the economic potential of humanoid robots powered by artificial general intelligence. Tesla is also actively recruiting talent to enhance software for the teleoperation of its robotaxis and Optimus robots.
Tesla's stock closed at $332.89 on November 29, down 1.6% for the day, but saw a slight increase of 0.5% in after-hours trading. Year to date, the stock has gained 34%, with analysts maintaining a consensus rating of 'Neutral' and a highest price target of $400.