Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-23 13:42Core Insights - The competition between Elon Musk's Tesla and Brett Adcock's Figure in the humanoid robot sector highlights two distinct approaches to realizing the future of robotics [4][28] - Figure's recent product launch, Figure 03, has gained significant public attention, contrasting with Tesla's more reserved approach to showcasing its Optimus robot [2][28] Company Overview - Tesla and Figure entered the humanoid robot market around the same time, with Musk announcing the Tesla Bot (later named Optimus) in August 2021 and Adcock founding Figure AI shortly thereafter [5][6] - Both companies have made significant strides in humanoid robot development, with Tesla focusing on engineering and system building, while Figure emphasizes public engagement and practical demonstrations [4][24] Product Development Timeline - Tesla's Optimus has seen several iterations, including the Bumble C prototype in 2022 and the Gen1 and Gen2 models in 2023, with a focus on refining its capabilities [6][7] - Figure has rapidly progressed with its robots, launching Figure 01 in March 2023 and Figure 02 in August 2024, showcasing practical applications in everyday settings [6][9] Public Perception and Marketing - Figure's marketing strategy involves demonstrating robots in relatable home environments, creating a tangible sense of how robots can integrate into daily life, while Tesla's focus remains on technical specifications and engineering challenges [3][4] - The contrasting narratives have led to Figure capturing more public attention, while Tesla's Optimus is perceived as a more internal project lacking public visibility [3][14] Future Projections - Musk envisions a future where humanoid robots could outnumber humans significantly, with production targets suggesting Tesla could manufacture up to 100 million units annually [15][28] - However, challenges in production, supply chain issues, and team instability have led to delays in Tesla's robot rollout, raising questions about its ability to meet these ambitious goals [19][26] Strategic Focus - Figure's singular focus on humanoid robots allows it to allocate all resources towards this goal, while Tesla's broader responsibilities as an automotive and energy company may hinder its agility in the robotics space [20][25] - The competition reflects a generational shift, with Adcock embodying a more agile, startup mentality compared to Musk's established corporate approach [27][28]