logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
15m 33s

Meet Optimus, the robot Elon Musk wants ...

LiSTNR
About this episode

Elon Musk has introduced Optimus, Tesla’s new humanoid robots, to the world and has made some ambitious claims about their uses in the not-too-distant future.

Viral videos of Optimus robots making drinks, dancing and chatting to attendees at the launch event have sparked questions around the humanoid's autonomy.

But this past week has been a massive one for Elon Musk, with SpaceX's successful docking of Starship marking an engineering milestone, which many thought was impossible.

In this episode of the Briefing Bension Siebert is joined by tech journalist James Hennessy to unpack how these robots work and when they’ll be hitting the market.

Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @listnrnewsroom
Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast 
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
BONUS: Inside the fight to free Kathleen Folbigg
Kathleen Folbigg was once branded Australia’s worst female serial killer, convicted of murdering her four children and locked away for 20 years. But she was innocent. In 2023, a breakthrough in genetics and the work of 90 leading scientists finally cleared Kathleen’s name and set ... Show More
32m 24s
Aug 22
How Natalie Kyriacou is saving the planet with snake clits and fish STDs
Natalie Kyriacou is the environmentalist saving the planet one snake clit and fish STD at a time. Before she turned 30, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to wildlife conservation and education. Creating World of the Wild, a app that’s been dubbed t ... Show More
40m 10s
Aug 22
The job with a doubled suicide rate + Shock Menendez parole ruling
The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the Australia, with employees twice as likely to die compared to other male workers. An often-toxic workplace environment and poor mental health are major contributing factors with experts calling for urgent action ... Show More
17m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Musk Unveils Tesla’s Robotaxi but Offers Few Details
Tesla’s robotaxi excited fans at a splashy event who are betting the company’s future is in robotics. But those watching online seemed underwhelmed, and investors were frustrated by the lack of details provided by CEO Elon Musk about the rollout of the company’s driverless cab. W ... Show More
13m 11s
Mar 2025
Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s politics have eroded Tesla’s appeal among some core buyers of electric vehicles. Some customers have started getting rid of their Teslas, and the company’s sales are down worldwide. Meanwhile, Musk is looking at new ways to expand Tesla’s business. WSJ’s Becky Peterso ... Show More
19m 28s
Oct 2024
Tech News: Tesla Fails to Wow Investors at We, Robot Event
This week, Elon Musk held his delayed Cybercab event while also showing off a new Robovan concept and Optimus humanoid robots. Investors, however, remain concerned that the event was more show than business. Also, Chinese hackers exploited backdoor access points to major Internet ... Show More
20m 16s
Jun 9
Are Trump and Musk Done for Good?
The storybook bromance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk seems to have come to an end. WSJ’s Rebecca Ballhaus unpacks what happened and what the stakes are for the two powerful men. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - Tesla Has a Problem: Elon Musk - Elon Musk’ ... Show More
20m 59s
Aug 2023
Mythical computers and super apps
Today on the flagship podcast of payment processing fees: 04:36 - The Verge's David Pierce travels to meet Keegan McNamara, an artisan who is making unique computers for more purposeful use cases. A visit to the one-man computer factory 27:11 - Liz Lopatto and Alex Heath join the ... Show More
1h 14m
Apr 2025
How Elon Musk Pulled X Back From the Brink
After years of trying to revive his flailing social media company, Elon Musk has pulled off a turnaround at X. It comes after Musk decided to merge X with his artificial intelligence company xAI. The deal values the combined business at over $100 billion. WSJ’s Alexander Saeedy e ... Show More
17m 47s
Oct 2024
Uncovering Elon Musk's Secret Political Donations
Elon Musk's financial support for Republican causes has been much more extensive and started earlier than previously known. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli reports on Musk’s rightward political shift and explains how he hid his donations.  Further Listening: - Elon Musk and Silicon Valley Tu ... Show More
20m 24s
May 2024
What We Know About Tesla’s Robotaxi
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is betting big on making robotaxis a centerpiece of the company’s long-term strategy. This summer, Tesla plans to show a future model. But the company will need to overcome technological and regulatory hurdles before its fully autonomous vehicles become a real ... Show More
11m 25s
Jun 2024
Tesla’s big, epic, confusing future
Today on the flagship podcast of super helpful humanoid helper robots: 05:07 - The Verge’s David Pierce and Andy Hawkins discuss the latest at Tesla: new products, new initiatives, and a payday for Elon Musk. Tesla’s 2024 shareholder meeting: all the news about Elon Musk’s $50 bi ... Show More
1h 14m