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The clip is from the soft launch of the Tesla diner and supercharger station in Los Angeles, the U.S., and shows Optimus smoothly scooping popcorn into a paper bag and handing it over with a friendly thumbs-up and a wave.
Though its movements are slower and more deliberate than those of a human, the robot completes the task without spilling a kernel.
Musk described the moment as a significant step toward developing versatile humanoid robots capable of real-world interaction and fine motor tasks. "This will become normal in a few years," he wrote, suggesting that such demonstrations are only a preview of what’s to come.
Optimus robot serves popcorn at the new Tesla diner in the U.S. on July 20, 2025. Photo by courtesy of X
The Optimus project began in 2021 with the unveiling of the Tesla Bot concept. Initially slated for release in 2023, development has been slower than expected, according to the Times of India. A 2022 prototype demonstrated basic mobility and the ability to interact with objects. But safety concerns have been a priority with Musk acknowledging the risk of public demonstrations going wrong.
By mid-2024 Musk updated the robot’s commercial rollout timeline, with sales beginning in 2026. During the same year’s "We, Robot" event, it was revealed that many units on display were being controlled remotely, an indication of the underlying technical challenges.
Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner on Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, opened its doors on Monday, the Independent reports.The venue includes robot servers handing out popcorn, food containers shaped like the Cybertruck and massive movie screens.
The 24-hour diner serves a menu of American comfort food, including fried chicken and waffles for US$13.50, grilled cheese sandwiches for $9 and tuna melts for $14. A $13.50 Tesla burger topped with "electric sauce" is also available on the menu curated by Los Angeles-based chef Eric Greenspan.
Designed to accommodate over 250 patrons, the diner also has 80 supercharger stalls for electric vehicles, all powered by solar panels.
Musk has hinted that this could be the first of many such locations. "If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think it will, Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world as well as at supercharger sites on long distance routes."
