If you've been wondering when robots would start solving all of humanity's problems, Elon Musk has an update for you. On Tuesday, the Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO shared video of the company's Optimus humanoid robot doing something new: running. Not shuffling, not walking briskly, but actually jogging across a lab floor while other robot units stood watching in the background.

The Robot Hits Its Stride

Tesla's Optimus account posted the brief clip with the caption "Just set a new PR in the lab," showing the robot moving with steady, measured strides. Musk reshared it with his typical brevity, writing simply "Running robot." It's a notable milestone for a project that showed the robot performing martial arts moves just a few months ago in October.

The real headline, though, isn't the jogging. It's what Musk thinks this technology will ultimately accomplish.

Bold Claims About Economic Transformation

Last month, Musk made a prediction that would sound absurd coming from almost anyone else: Optimus will "actually eliminate poverty." Not reduce it, not help address it, but eliminate it entirely. His theory is that the humanoid robot could fundamentally reshape the global economy by taking over tasks that currently require human labor.

Tesla is planning for mass production to begin soon, with Musk previously suggesting a price point of $20,000 to $30,000 per robot once manufacturing reaches scale. Whether that's realistic remains to be seen, but it's certainly more affordable than hiring a full-time employee for most tasks.

Leadership Shifts Behind The Scenes

The Optimus project hasn't been without turbulence. Back in September, Ashish Kumar, who led the AI efforts for Optimus, left Tesla to reportedly join Meta Platforms, Inc. (META). Leadership changes at this stage of development can be telling, though Tesla continues pushing forward with the technology.

Meanwhile, the core business keeps humming along. Tesla reported third-quarter revenue of $28.095 billion, up 12% year-over-year and beating the consensus estimate of $26.239 billion. The stock shows positive price trends over medium and long-term periods, though short-term momentum has been negative.

Whether Optimus will actually eliminate poverty or just become another expensive gadget remains an open question. But watching a humanoid robot jog across a lab floor while its creator makes grand proclamations about the future? That's pure Musk.