Overview

• Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff posted a short clip of a gold-colored Optimus prototype that uses xAI’s Grok voice mode for spoken queries and audible replies.
• In the video, the robot answers basic questions, needs repeated prompts to begin fetching a Coke, walks slowly, and the clip ends before the task is completed.
• The prototype features more human-like hands that reporters say appear nonfunctional in the footage, underscoring ongoing work on dexterity.
• Elon Musk has cast Optimus as the bulk of Tesla’s future value—around 80% by his claim—while earlier 2025 unit targets have slipped as the company projects a ramp toward 2026.
• Headwinds include rare-earth magnet export restrictions from China, a paused parts procurement for redesign, reported overheating and battery limits, and the departure of engineering lead Milan Kovac, even as Benioff touts a $200K–$500K workplace price and lower-cost Chinese rivals push ahead.