Tesla's Optimus 2.5 Is Here

Tech giant Tesla has finally unveiled a gold-colored iteration of its Optimus humanoid robot and clarified that the machine is an intermediate upgrade, not a new generation. After fans on X speculated that the gleaming robot marked a third-generation debut, CEO Elon Musk intervened to say the unit is "version 2.5." "We haven’t shown Optimus V3 yet. It is sublime," he wrote on X.

The company has previously said that second-generation Optimus prototypes are already performing repeatable tasks in controlled settings, including at Tesla’s factory and the Tesla Diner, where a black Optimus 2.0 serves popcorn. The official Optimus account also questioned the refreshed look: "I’ve been working on my figure."

In a video shared by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, the gold Optimus appeared with xAI’s Grok voice assistant, responding to spoken prompts and speaking back. "Hey Optimus, where can I get a Coke?" Benioff asked. "Sorry, I don’t ..." the robot answered, but abruptly stopped before continuing, "... have real-time info, but I can take you to the kitchen if you want to check for a Coke there."

The humanoid awkwardly paused after saying that, while Musk had to step in and say, "I think we need to give it a little more room," and that, "Right now, it’s kind of paranoid about space." After this brief back-and-forth, the robot began to walk slowly down an office hallway. Musk added, "It’ll be able to walk much faster, too."

The clip shows progress from earlier public appearances,but offers little evidence of robust autonomy or dexterous manipulation; the video ends before any object retrieval. Benioff nevertheless called the system a "productivity game-changer" that will be "tackling human work for US$ 200K – US$ 500K."

By contrast, competition is intensifying abroad, with Chinese manufacturers marketing US$ 6,000 bipedal alternatives. Reports have also pointed to practical hurdles for Optimus, including production bottlenecks, hand dexterity issues, and leadership turnover on the program. The company has previously set ambitious output targets, and outside reporting has indicated it has fallen behind those goals.

Beyond the headline-grabbing gold finish, the most tangible changes in Optimus 2.5 are external refinements. Compared to version 2.0, the robot’s shell edges are smoother, joints are better covered, and seams are less visible. The brushed metal exterior appears more uniform, with rounded shoulders and fewer exposed wires and actuators.

Overall, the design language shifts from squarish to roundish and more curvy, presenting a silhouette closer to a human figure, at least from the front. These tweaks suggest improving both perceived readiness for human environments and practical mobility, with a look that feels closer to a product than a lab rig.

Tesla continues to frame Optimus as central to its long-term strategy, and the latest iteration now pairs the hardware with Grok’s voice mode to enable conversational control. But the Benioff video clearly highlights the gap between controlled demos and reliable real-world performance. While Musk has hyped a forthcoming V3 "sublime," in his words, Optimus, very apparently remains in a prototype stage, with production currently slated to start in 2026.

Though it is not even close to the vision Elon Musk has advertised for humanoid robots, the 2.5 update is best read as an incremental step for now. A cleaner, more cohesive exterior, basic voice-guided interaction, and a public reminder from Musk that the next true generation has yet to be shown.

Elon’s Tesla Optimus 🤖🔥 is here! Dawn of the physical Agentforce revolution, tackling human work for $200K–$500K. Productivity game-changer! Congrats @elonmusk, and thank you for always being so kind to me! 🚀 #Tesla #Optimus pic.twitter.com/bA5IYIylE1

— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) September 3, 2025