Elon Musk says let criminals out of prison and give them a robot stalker instead
Electrek
Tesla annual shareholder meeting, Austin
“Which is if you say, like, you now get a free Optimus and it's just gonna follow you around and stop you from doing crime. But other than that you get to do anything. It's just gonna stop you from committing crime, that's really it. You don't have to put people in prisons and stuff, I think.”
Elon Musk6 November 2025- What you'll lose3/5
Liberty, with a robot that follows you around.
- Condescension2/5
'But other than that you get to do anything.'
- Tone-deafness4/5
'You don't have to put people in prisons and stuff, I think.'
- Doom2/5
A robot minder for everyone with a record.
- Hypocrisy0/5
None.
Full time11 pitchforksof a possible 25
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The occasion
Tesla annual shareholder meeting, Austin, 6 November 2025.
Context
Speaking about what Optimus humanoid robots might do, Musk floated 'a more humane form of containment of future crime' for people who have committed a crime: a free Optimus that follows them and stops them offending. It was an off-the-cuff idea, not an announced product.
Crowd reaction
Critical commentary
Electrek called it one of Musk's 'trademark ridiculous pronouncements' and 'a bit of a doozy'. Futurism called it 'his latest asinine idea' and asked how the 'lumbering Optimus robots' could 'possibly prevent crime in their current state'. Sherwood News filed it under 'the wildest stuff' said at the meeting.
- Electrek: Elon Musk says let criminals out of prison and give them a robot stalker instead
- Futurism: Elon Says His Robot Will Follow Criminals Around to Make Sure They Never Offend Again
- Sherwood News: The wildest stuff Elon Musk said at Tesla’s shareholder meeting
- AOL: Elon Musk says Tesla's robot could follow people around to stop crime
- Where the exact words are printed