The DMV, But Make It Healthcare

Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk took to X on Thursday with a characteristically bold take on healthcare policy. Responding to news that a 44-year-old man in Canada died after waiting over eight hours at an emergency room at Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Musk offered his diagnosis of the problem.

"Government healthcare is like having the DMV as your doctor," Musk wrote. His proposed solution? The Optimus humanoid robot and xAI's AI model Grok would be much better alternatives to universal healthcare systems. "Grok and Optimus will provide incredible healthcare for all," he declared.

This isn't the first time Musk has pitched Optimus as a healthcare revolution. He's previously suggested the robot could perform surgeries and called it an "infinite money glitch" that would enable universal high income for everyone. So, you know, modest claims.

The Ever-Growing List of Optimus Applications

Healthcare is just one item on Musk's long list of potential Optimus applications. The Tesla chief has claimed the humanoid robot could help create a prison-free future by following people around and preventing them from committing crimes. (Whether anyone wants a robot constantly trailing them is another question entirely.)

Musk has also stated that Optimus would represent over 80% of Tesla's future value, part of the company's broader push toward AI and robotics outlined in Master Plan IV. That's quite a pivot for a company that started out making electric cars.

The Teleoperator Question

Here's where things get interesting. A video recently surfaced from a Tesla event showing an Optimus robot standing behind a counter, offering water to attendees. The robot then appeared to mimic the gesture of removing a headset before falling to the ground. Plot twist: the robot wasn't actually wearing any headgear or headset at the time.

That awkward moment has fueled speculation that Optimus robots are being controlled by human teleoperators rather than functioning autonomously as advertised. Musk had previously claimed the robot was being controlled by AI after showcasing videos of Optimus performing martial arts moves. But the headset-removal pantomime has people asking uncomfortable questions about what's really happening behind the curtain.

The distinction matters quite a bit if you're betting on robots to revolutionize healthcare, prevent crime, or represent the lion's share of Tesla's future valuation.

Price Action: Tesla (TSLA) shares slid 0.11% to $485.03 during after-hours trading, according to market data.