Let's not mock the Tesla robot just yet.

Optimus may be unsteady on its feet, but it can wield a watering can.

Anyone scared that robots will take over the world can take solace in the fact that the newly revealed Tesla robot looks quite easy to knock over – at least for now. Elon Musk finally unveiled the Tesla robot at the company's AI Day event, and the internet has been quick to make fun of the unstable-looking humanoid. But we may still eat our words.

Tesla's robot is called Optimus. Yes, like Optimus Prime, and no, it doesn't transform, sadly. But it can wave, walk (just about), and dance (conservatively). But before we mock, we should remember that this prototype for the AI-powered robot was made in barely a year, and while Optimus doesn't look steady on its feet, it's pretty nifty with a watering can.

For many, Optimus watering plants will conjure up C-3PO, Marvin the Paranoid Android, or Kryten from Red Dwarf. Optimus takes very tentative steps for now, but Musk revealed that Tesla plans to eventually produce "millions" of them. They'll initially be intended for employment on production lines – yes, Optimus is out for the last remaining factory jobs – but may eventually make it to household use for anything from cleaning to cooking. At least that's the plan. How much will the Tesla robot cost? Musks say probably "less than $20,000".

Tesla's CEO revealed two versions of Optimus at the event on Friday. A deconstructed prototype that busts some moves, and then a "close to production" version that "isn't quite ready to walk". Musk said of the former that it was the first time it had walked untethered. It seems unlikely that Musk would take that risk at such a public event, but he did seem to mean it when he said he hoped Optimus didn't "fall flat on its face".

Twitter was quick to poke fun. "He's walking like he doesn't want to wake you since he's been out all night driving your Tesla and hanging out with his robot pals," one observer commented. "Tesla's robot waves but can't walk, yet. What could possibly go wrong?" someone asked.

Thank you .@elonmusk for creating me 😎I will be nice to the humans 🤣.