The internet basically melted last year when a video surfaced of Kim Kardashian hanging out with a faceless, metallic humanoid in her backyard. It wasn't a movie set. It wasn't a prank. It was Kim Kardashian with robot—specifically, the Tesla Optimus—and the footage looked like something ripped straight out of a $2004$ sci-fi flick.
Honestly, the whole thing felt a little eerie.
In the clips, which first dropped in late $2024$ and continued to trend well into $2025$, the SKIMS founder is seen teaching the robot how to make a hand-heart. She asks it to "do this," and after a slight, mechanical delay, the machine mirrors her perfectly. It’s surreal. You’ve got one of the most famous women on the planet treating a $30,000$ piece of experimental hardware like a new puppy.
The Reality of the Tesla Optimus Interaction
Most people think Kim just bought this thing off a shelf. That’s not quite how it happened. While Elon Musk has teased that these bots will eventually cost between $20,000$ and $30,000$, they aren't exactly available at your local mall yet.
Kim’s "friend" is the Optimus Gen 2.
She didn't just have one, either. She showcased a standard white-and-black model and then a flashy, all-gold version that she claimed was the "only one" in existence. The gold one was positioned next to a matching gold Tesla Cybercab, which is Musk’s vision for a steering-wheel-free future.
What did the robot actually do?
- Hand-Hearts: It completed a heart shape with Kim's hand, a move that went viral instantly.
- Hula Dancing: When she asked what they should do, it mimicked a Hawaiian dance.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: Kim actually played a round with it. Spoiler: She won. She even teased the bot for being "a little slow."
- Running Motion: It simulated a jog on the spot when prompted.
People were quick to label it her "low-maintenance boyfriend." The joke writes itself, right? But behind the memes, there's a pretty massive marketing machine at work. Kim's publicist eventually told The New York Times that she wasn't actually paid for these posts. Whether you believe that or not, the "Kim Kardashian with robot" moment did more for Tesla’s PR than a thousand technical white papers ever could.
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Is It Actually Autonomous?
This is where the nuance comes in. If you look closely at the "We, Robot" event Tesla held before Kim’s videos came out, it was revealed that many of the Optimus bots were being "tele-operated."
That’s a fancy way of saying a human was behind the curtain with a remote control.
Was Kim’s bot thinking for itself? Probably not entirely. While the AI is getting better at recognizing gestures, the fluid conversation and specific dances suggest some level of human assistance or pre-programmed scripting. It’s a "showpiece" stage of technology. It’s cool, sure, but don't expect it to fold your laundry without a hitch just yet.
Why This Matters for the Rest of Us
We're moving into an era where the line between "gadget" and "companion" is getting blurry.
Kim also posed for Perfect Magazine recently, lying on a bed next to the bot, telling the interviewer she feels "robotic" herself. It’s a self-aware nod to her brand—curated, polished, and always "on." But for the average person, seeing "Kim Kardashian with robot" makes the tech feel inevitable. It stops being a scary laboratory experiment and starts looking like a lifestyle accessory.
The Controversy Factor
Not everyone was cheering. A lot of critics pointed out the weirdness of a billionaire showcasing a luxury robot while people are struggling with basic costs. There’s also the "uncanny valley" effect—that skin-crawling feeling you get when something looks human but isn't. Seeing a metallic hand "blow a kiss" (which Kim also filmed) is definitely high on the creep-factor scale for some.
What’s Next for the Kim and Optimus Duo?
Expect more. As Tesla pushes toward limited production in late $2025$ and into $2026$, high-profile "beta testers" like Kim will be the faces of the rollout. We’ll likely see these bots appearing in the background of The Kardashians or perhaps even working the floor at a SKIMS pop-up shop.
If you're looking to follow in Kim's footsteps, you can't exactly "buy" the gold version today. But you can track the development through Tesla’s official AI updates. The goal is for these machines to eventually handle "unsafe, repetitive, or boring tasks." For Kim, that currently means playing games and posing for the 'gram. For the rest of the world, it might eventually mean a robot that actually does the dishes.
Actionable Insights:
- Monitor the Price: While the $20k-$30k range is the target, early adopter "Founder’s Edition" models will likely be much higher.
- Check the Tech: Look for "tele-operation" disclaimers in future viral videos to see if the AI is truly autonomous.
- Follow the Timeline: Tesla expects limited production to ramp up through $2026$, so keep an eye on official reservation invites if you have a Cybertruck-sized hole in your budget.