# Musk Says Tesla May Need 10,000 to 20,000 Optimus Robots for Self-Play Training By Simon Yoon Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/40330 Published: 2026-10-24T21:41:55.000Z Updated: 2026-10-24T21:41:55.000Z Section: Technology > Tesla outlined Optimus Academy in July. Musk’s estimate describes a possible training fleet, not a production commitment. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company may need 10,000 to 20,000 Optimus humanoid robots for self-play training, a tentative estimate that puts a possible scale on Tesla’s robot-learning program. Musk put the figure at “on the order of 10,000 or 20,000 bots” and said Tesla would have them practice tasks through self-play. He made the comment on Tesla’s Oct. 21 Q&A webcast, which began at 5:30 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. UTC). Musk presented it as a rough estimate, rather than a production commitment. The proposed fleet would be part of Optimus Academy, an internal training program Tesla described in July. Tesla’s July update said initial Optimus builds would be used for training-data collection and further development. Musk’s latest comment added a possible scale and self-play purpose to that outline. The new figure concerns training needs; the Academy itself was already part of Tesla’s plans. Tesla executives described a sequence in which people first demonstrate tasks, after which robots practice in simulation and in real-world settings. The robots would continue with self-play after those demonstrations, as Musk described it. The proposed fleet is intended to supply robot experience for improving the models, rather than represent a stated sales target. Optimus does not have the large deployed vehicle fleet that supplies data for Tesla’s car AI systems. The Academy would give the robots a separate way to collect training data and develop functionality. That training role is distinct from Tesla’s manufacturing progress: the company has started production on high-volume lines in Fremont, California, and called its first units “production-quality.” California is in early ramp, while Texas is under construction. Tesla also described its current production process as suitable for a commercial product. That manufacturing description does not change the status of Musk’s estimate, which he presented as tentative. The company has not given a production target tied to the training fleet. Musk said deliveries to companies outside Tesla were likely toward the end of 2027. TokenPost previously covered the [start of Optimus production in Fremont]() and Tesla’s potential [deliveries to outside companies around year-end 2027](). ## Links in this article - [start of Optimus production in Fremont](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/37720) - [deliveries to outside companies around year-end 2027](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/38011)