NEW YORK — Elon Musk set a sweeping new ambition for Tesla during an event in New York, stating the company’s Tesla Optimus robot could one day perform surgical procedures with precision comparable to human specialists.
Musk said the advancement might help address global shortages of skilled surgeons and expand access to high quality medical care. His remarks underscored Tesla’s evolving push beyond electric vehicles and into advanced robotics.
Musk introduced the Tesla Optimus robot as a multipurpose humanoid machine in development at the company’s robotics lab.
Tesla has been testing prototypes capable of walking, lifting objects and completing basic manufacturing tasks.
Musk said the next stage of development would focus on fine motor control and sensor accuracy, which he described as essential for any medical application.
“There are not enough surgeons worldwide to meet demand,” Musk said. “If we can train Optimus to perform highly controlled tasks, each person could receive access to top-tier medical care, regardless of location.”
The comments came as technology firms accelerate efforts to apply robotics to clinical settings. Existing systems, such as the da Vinci surgical platform from Intuitive Surgical, allow doctors to operate tools remotely with robotic precision.
However, fully autonomous surgical work remains limited and highly regulated. Tesla has not released a timeline for any medical version of its robot, and regulators have not commented on what approvals would be required.
Medical and robotics experts said Musk’s vision reflects long running interest in automated surgery but warned that advancements must be supported by strict oversight.
Dr. Lena Carter, a biomedical engineering professor at Columbia University, said the idea is technically possible but far from immediate.
“Autonomous surgical robotics has been a research goal for more than a decade,” she said. “To move from assisting surgeons to replacing them in certain procedures would require extraordinary accuracy, reliability and clinical testing.
A general purpose system like the Tesla Optimus robot would need its entire architecture validated for medical environments.”
Industry analysts noted that Tesla’s entry into health technology would shift competition within the broader robotics field.
“Tesla has the scale to push hardware innovation quickly, but medicine is not a consumer market,” said Rahul Singh, a robotics industry consultant based in Boston.
“Every movement, sensor and calculation must meet a level of safety beyond what is required for automotive or factory robotics.”
Others pointed to the ethical implications of delegating surgical responsibility to machines. “Who is accountable when a robot makes a mistake?” asked Dr. Miriam Esquivel, a health policy researcher in Washington.
“Before any autonomous system enters an operating room, policymakers will need clear frameworks for liability, oversight and patient consent.” Global demand for surgical care has surged in recent years.
According to estimates from the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, five billion people lack access to safe, affordable surgical procedures. Many low income regions face shortages of trained surgeons, particularly in rural areas.
Existing medical robotics remain limited in availability and cost. A da Vinci system typically requires several million dollars in installation and maintenance, putting it out of reach for many hospitals.
Analysts say that if the Tesla Optimus robot were adapted for medical use at a significantly lower cost, it could disrupt pricing models and accessibility.
Tesla has not disclosed performance benchmarks for tasks requiring surgical level precision.
In automotive manufacturing, robots routinely achieve millimeter scale accuracy, but surgical automation often demands sub millimeter precision and real time decision making supported by AI systems.
Reactions to Musk’s remarks were mixed among medical professionals and patients. Dr. Ibrahim Khan, a surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital, said he welcomed innovation but remained cautious.
If the Tesla Optimus robot could assist with routine tasks like suturing or tissue preparation, it could reduce surgeon fatigue and improve consistency, he said.
“But full autonomy raises questions about trust. Patients expect a human being to make judgment calls during surgery.” Some members of the public expressed optimism about expanded access.
In rural areas where specialists are not available, something like this could save lives, said New Jersey resident Alice Coleman, who underwent a complicated surgery last year.
“If a robot can perform the same procedure with accuracy, it could help families who might otherwise wait months.”
Others were concerned about safety. “Technology fails all the time,” said Martin Lewis, a Brooklyn EMT. “A mechanical error is one thing, but a mistake inside the human body is something you can’t undo quickly.”
Tesla has provided no details on whether it plans to partner with medical institutions, research centers or regulatory bodies to develop a surgical version of its humanoid system.
Musk said only that the company would continue improving fine-motion control, artificial intelligence and sensor feedback.
Industry researchers expect competition to intensify as more companies explore medical robotics. Google’s DeepMind division, Johnson & Johnson’s surgical robotics unit and several startups are investing in AI driven precision tools.
Analysts said Tesla’s broader recognition and manufacturing capacity could accelerate development but cautioned that the medical field typically moves slower than consumer technology.
If realized, a surgical capable Tesla Optimus robot could reshape how hospitals manage procedures, staffing and training. However, experts stressed that widespread adoption would require years of trials, approvals and public trust.
Musk’s projection that the Tesla Optimus robot could eventually perform surgery highlights Tesla’s expanding ambitions in robotics and artificial intelligence.
While experts view the concept as technologically feasible, they note significant clinical, regulatory and ethical hurdles remain.
The idea arrives at a time of growing demand for surgical care worldwide, but its future will depend on rigorous testing and global coordination rather than vision alone.