Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has praised Elon Musk for being “smart and ahead of the curve,” particularly in the realm of video-trained robotics and AI. However, Cuban remains sceptical about Musk’s vision of humanoid robots dominating the future. Speaking on the Prof G Markets podcast, Cuban highlighted that while robotics will be crucial for productivity, the future lies in function-first, task-oriented robots rather than human-like machines. He envisions robots capable of performing practical chores efficiently, such as cleaning, sorting laundry, or dusting, without necessarily looking like humans. Musk, on the other hand, predicts humanoid robots could one day be as ubiquitous as smartphones, potentially transforming the global economy.
Elon Musk’s vision: Humanoids as everyday helpers
Elon Musk sees humanoid robots, such as Tesla’s Optimus, becoming as common as smartphones. He envisions these machines creating an economy “ten times the size of the current global economy” and bringing about “universal high income.” Musk even joked at a Saudi forum that one Optimus robot performed the “Trump dance,” highlighting the cultural and technological novelty he anticipates.Cuban emphasised that video-trained AI robotics are a key advantage Musk has in the field. “With robotics, they’ve got to capture video. That’s where Elon is smart and ahead of the curve,” Cuban said. But he doubts humanoid robots will be the main game-changer, arguing that practical design and function will matter more than human-like appearances.
Function-first design: robots that actually work
Cuban envisions robots designed to complete tasks autonomously, like cleaning homes or sorting laundry. These machines could resemble spiders or other efficient shapes rather than humans. “It’s going to know what socks go together, how long to wash, and even check under the bed for dust,” he explained. The focus is on efficiency and usability, not mimicry.
AI will transform businesses and education
Despite differences on humanoid adoption, both Cuban and Musk agree on AI’s transformative power. Cuban highlighted his own company, Cost Plus Drugs, where AI-powered robotics manufactures medicines faster and cheaper than in India or China. He also stressed AI’s potential to help small businesses improve efficiency and provide young people with unprecedented learning opportunities. “There’s nothing a child can’t learn right now,” Cuban said.