Musk stated that the Tesla Optimus is developing highly dexterous hands for executing precision medical operations and complex surgeries, rather than just for factory handling.

In a conversation with investor Ron Baron, he mentioned that the next generation of Optimus will have about 50 actuators in each hand and forearm; a total of about 100 actuators for both hands. The actuators, composed of motors, gear mechanisms, and power electronics, are the core hardware units enabling force control, joint movement, and tactile feedback in robotic hands.

Musk emphasized the difficulty of the "hand" in humanoid robot development: everyday actions such as picking up a screwdriver, turning a wrench, threading a needle, or playing guitar rely on the sensitivity, precision, and freedom of human hands. He stated that for robots to accomplish dexterous tasks, their hand capabilities must reach a level of perception and movement similar to that of human hands.

He further claimed that Optimus should achieve "superhuman-level" precision in the future, capable of handling highly complex medical procedures and even performing tasks that humans cannot complete due to operational difficulties; this is Musk's goal description for future product capabilities, not a validated ability that has entered clinical use.

Musk provided a medical rationale: top surgical capabilities are constrained by training cycles, workforce numbers, physical loads, and geographic distribution. While money can increase doctors' salaries, it cannot quickly replicate top operators. If robots can stably replicate actions, visual and force control capabilities, a single expert-level operating system can be expanded to more regions through mass-produced robotic carriers.

In market mechanisms, hospitals and medical service networks are potential buyers. They are not purchasing a general humanoid robot, but rather a regulatory-approved automated operating system that can reduce variability in specific surgeries and improve operating room utilization. Beneficiaries will include surgical robots, precision gear reducers, torque sensors, machine vision, medical-grade software, clinical data, and liability insurance providers; high-cost manual surgery supply, healthcare institutions dependent on surgical volume, and equipment manufacturers lacking robotic integration capabilities will face pressure. The true variables determining capital flow are clinical trials, indication approvals, fault liability, training, and payer reimbursements, rather than the number of actuators.

Source: Public Information