Economy

Musk predicts widespread robotaxis and robot sales during appearance at World Economic Forum

Illustration for: Musk predicts widespread robotaxis and robot sales during appearance at World Economic Forum
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Jan 22, 2026

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk outlined ambitious timelines for the deployment of humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles during an appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Speaking with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Musk predicted that robots will eventually outnumber humans and stated that Tesla aims to begin selling its "Optimus" humanoid robots to the public by the end of 2027.

Musk, who has previously criticized the Davos gathering, argued that advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics are the only path to solving poverty and achieving "sustainable abundance." He told Fink that Tesla’s robots, which currently perform simple factory tasks, should be capable of complex work by the end of this year. Analysts cited in reports estimate the humanoid robotics market could expand to at least $40 billion by 2035 as the technology enters labor-intensive sectors.

Regarding autonomous transport, Musk claimed that Tesla would operate a "very, very widespread" network of driverless robotaxis in the U.S. by the end of 2026. Reports indicate that while Tesla launched robotaxi tests with safety supervisors in Austin in June 2025, the company has not yet obtained permits to operate vehicles on public roads without a human at the wheel. Competitors in the driverless market, such as Alphabet-backed Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox, are already operating in select U.S. cities.

Musk further suggested that artificial intelligence could surpass human intelligence by late 2026 or 2027. His participation marked a shift in stance, as he had characterized the forum in 2023 as an "unelected world government." Other attendees at this year's event included U.S. President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

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• Pending regulatory approvals Despite the prediction of a widespread driverless network by 2026, reports indicate that Tesla has not yet cleared key regulatory hurdles. While the company began testing with safety supervisors in Austin in June 2025, it has not yet obtained permits to operate vehicles on public roads without a human driver behind the wheel.

• Lagging behind current competitors Tesla’s current operational status contrasts with other players in the autonomous driving market who have already deployed their services. Competitors such as Alphabet-backed Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox are currently operating driverless vehicles in select U.S. cities, while Tesla’s testing remains under human supervision.

• Reversal of previous stance Musk's participation in the Davos event marks a distinct shift from his historical view of the organization. Although he used the platform to discuss AI surpassing human intelligence, he had previously criticized the forum in 2023, characterizing it as an "unelected world government."

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader: You may have access to a widespread network of Tesla driverless robotaxis by the end of 2026 if the company successfully meets its projected timeline.

Personal ownership of humanoid robots capable of complex tasks could become a retail option by late 2027, potentially altering how you handle daily tasks.

Widespread deployment of these autonomous vehicles relies on Tesla securing permits to operate on public roads without the currently required human safety supervisors.

You might utilize autonomous transport from competitors like Waymo and Zoox in the near term, as they currently operate in select cities while Tesla continues supervised testing.

The integration of robotics into labor-intensive sectors could drive significant economic shifts, with the market projected to expand to at least $40 billion by 2035.

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