Tesla wants to pay you to be an Optimus Bot — sort of


Tesla is hiring for a new role that will help it accumulate data for its Optimus humanoid robot — essentially paying you for acting like its upcoming bot that will eliminate monotonous tasks from day-to-day life.

The job, labeled as a “Data Collection Operator, Tesla Bot,” helps support Tesla’s data collection team. The job is simple: wear a motion capture suit and a Virtual Reality (VR) headset while performing designated movements and actions, all to help the engineers gain information on how the Bot will operate.

There are a handful of requirements for the position, including the need to walk potentially more than seven hours per day. Candidates will also need to be between 5′ 7″ and 5′ 11″ in height. This ensures you will fit into the motion capture suits that Tesla is using for the project.

The job posting was initially spotted by BI.

Some other requirements include:

  • Ability to wear and operate a motion capture suit and VR headset for extended periods of time. Note that the use of VR headsets or working in a virtual environment can be disorienting and uncomfortable for some people, which can result in VR sickness symptoms
  • Continuous hand/eye coordination and fine manipulation, body coordination, and kinesthetic awareness and ability to walk up/downstairs
  • Must have the ability to stand, sit, walk, stoop, bend, reach, crouch, and twist throughout the day
  • Ability to travel up to 25% of the time and daily regional driving
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule: day/night shift and 1 weekend day + overtime when needed
  • Experience using VR equipment a plus

The job pays pretty well. Tesla lists it at “$25.25 – $48.00/hour + cash and stock awards + benefits.”

The Optimus project is one of Tesla’s lesser-discussed ventures, considering it has a lot of other things going on, especially the launch of the Robotaxi, which will be moving along with a new event date of October 10.

Elon Musk gives new updates on Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot project

Recently, Elon Musk discussed some goals for Tesla with the Optimus bot for next year:

“Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year and, hopefully, high production for other companies in 2026.”

Tesla is moving along with the development of Optimus and striving to reach optimistic timeframes for its rollout and implementation outside of its own factories.

Tesla hires for Optimus Bot data collection





Source

Chechen leader mods Tesla Cybertruck with mounted machine gun


The head of the Chechen Republic has received a Tesla Cybertruck and has mounted a machine gun to the back, as seen in a video shared over the weekend.

On Saturday, Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video on Telegram of him driving a Tesla Cybertruck with a mounted machine gun on the back. In the post, Kadyrov shared high praise for the vehicle, highlighting its quickness and speed, as well as its general maneuverability and durability.

“We received a Tesla Cybertruck from the respected Elon Musk,” Kadyrov wrote, as translated into English from Russian. “I was pleased to test the new technology and was personally convinced that it is not by chance that it is called the ‘Cyberbeast’. A real invulnerable and fast animal. A maneuverable car that develops excellent speed and overcomes obstacles. A very comfortable car.”

At the time of writing, Musk has not commented on the story nor shared whether or not he was involved with Kadyrov’s acquisition of the Cybertruck. In the past, however, Musk and Tesla have highlighted that they don’t typically “gift” people their electric vehicles (EVs), but rather that everyone must pay full price.

The Chechnya ruler and Vladimir Putin ally also said he plans to send the vehicle to a military zone to the aid of his soldiers, after which point he intends to write back to Musk and Tesla with notes on how the Cybertruck performed as a warzone vehicle.

“Based on such excellent characteristics, the Cybertruck will soon be sent to the North-East Military District zone, where it will be in demand under appropriate conditions. I am sure this ‘beast’ will bring a lot of benefits to our soldiers,” Kadyrov added.

Credit: Ramzan Kadyrov | Telegram

Credit: Ramzan Kadyrov | Telegram

Tesla Cybertruck mods for military use have been popping up in recent months, largely coming from Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT division dedicated to fleet, government, and militarized vehicle mods. UP has developed multiple Cybertruck mods within the realm of policing and military, and one police department in California launched the first Cybertruck outfitted for service last month.

In January, Elon Musk responded to a post on X affirming the fact that he thought the Cybertruck makes a great police vehicle, especially for its steel exterior and overall durability.

Updated 11:23 a.m. MT: Added fourth paragraph noting that Musk has not commented on how or if Kadyrov actually “received” the Cybertruck from him.

Tesla buyers in the U.S. military can get $1,000 off Cybertruck purchases

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Chechen leader mods Tesla Cybertruck with mounted machine gun





Source

Tesla deploys its latest mobile app update—here’s what’s in it


Tesla has deployed a new version of its mobile app, with the update including a release notes button and new hints about Actual Smart Summon’s upcoming deployment.

Not a Tesla App spotted Tesla mobile app update v4.36.0 on Saturday, notably including a new release notes button that appears when installing a software update. The button lets users go directly to the update’s release notes, along with noting the UI version and the number for the software update.

Credit: Not a Tesla App

The app update also includes more progress on Actual Smart Summon, as evidenced by a decompile performed by Tesla App Updates, which found new strings in the code related to the upcoming feature’s error messages. You can see a few of the new strings below.

  • autopark_summon_standby_autosteer_not_enabled
  • autopark_summon_error_low_tire_pressure
  • setWebcamUnavailableReason
  • autopark_summon_error_parked_for_too_long
  • autopark_summon_error_car_alarm
  • smart_summon_pre_trip_camera_unavailable
  • Enable Autosteer to allow Summon
  • REMOTE_DRIVE
  • AUTO_SECURE_VEHICLE

Tesla’s mobile app was rated the best automotive mobile app by J.D. Power in May, as followed by those from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Genesis, and Porsche.

Elon Musk recently said that Actual Smart Summon would be deployed alongside Full Self-Driving (FSD) v12.5, despite technically being a separate code from the FSD version. Musk also suggested that the software would be going out sometime in August, so it could go out at any point.

Tesla’s Actual Smart Summon has been teased for several years, and the recent announcement of the feature’s debut with FSD v12.5 has been welcomed warmly by those anticipating it. Musk has said since 2022 that the software would be coming soon, and all signs lately seem to be pointing to it being close.

“Actually” Smart Summon was also teased by Musk last June, when he predicted that the feature would be launched in the few months to follow.

Regardless, the software is being debuted alongside several new features included with FSD v12.5, which has been slowly deploying to broader waves of vehicles over the past few weeks.

Tesla mobile app update adds ‘Recent Trips,’ updated trip planner UI

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla has updated its mobile app to v4.36.0





Source