Fact Check: Elon Musk, Son, and Tesla Robot – Is the Image Real?
A recent image circulating online purports to show Elon Musk with his son and a robot nanny developed by Tesla. However, a fact-check by Annahar reveals that this claim is inaccurate. The image is, in fact, a manipulated composite.
The Truth Behind the Image
The original photograph, taken on February 13, 2025, depicts Elon Musk with his friend Shivon Zilis and their children, Strider and Azure, accompanied by a nanny. The photo was taken in Washington, D.C., following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Blair House. The manipulated version replaced Zilis with a robot, likely using image editing software.
This meeting, held on February 13, 2025, involved discussions on a range of topics, including space, mobility, technology, and innovation, as Modi himself mentioned on X (formerly Twitter). The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also noted that the talks covered opportunities for enhanced collaboration in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and good governance.
Tesla’s Optimus Robot and Future Plans
The image’s false claim intersects with Tesla’s developments in robotics. In 2022, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, showcased an early prototype of the Optimus robot. He anticipated that the electric car manufacturer would be able to produce millions of these robots and bring them to market within a few years. The Optimus robot has been demonstrated at events, including one in Silicon Valley, where it interacted with the audience.
During Tesla’s AI Day on September 30, 2022, Musk indicated that the company was actively working on the robot’s development, with the expectation of being ready to take orders within three to five years. At the We, Robot event on October 10, 2024, Musk highlighted the versatility of the Optimus robot, suggesting it could perform various tasks, such as childcare, dog walking, and serving drinks.
Tesla’s financial report for the first quarter of 2025 revealed that the company had begun limited production of the robots at its California factory, with plans to manufacture over 1,000 units for internal use this year, and aiming to start external sales in 2026.
Furthermore, in March 2025, Musk, who is also the founder of SpaceX, announced that the company’s massive Starship rocket would launch towards Mars by the end of 2026, carrying the Tesla Optimus robot. The aim is to enable human presence on the Red Planet in the following years.
Conclusion
In summary, the image suggesting Elon Musk with his son and a Tesla robot nanny is a fabrication. The original photograph shows Elon Musk with Shivon Zilis and their children. This fact-check confirms the importance of verifying information, especially in the age of digital manipulation.
Source: Annahar
About the Author
