I love food, I mean good food, and that, traditional delicacies. I won't mind if you called me a "foodie". Truth is, making good food is a hard job, takes time, and with associated health hazards. This is one domestic chore I'd love a robot do for me.
Image from Chat GPT
Dear Optimus, Can you Cook?
In October, tech billionaire Elon Musk's Tesla unveiled an updated version of its humanoid robot "Optimus" that is more versatile and designed to be a general-purpose robot economically viable for both individual and industrial uses. Optimum could eventually be priced at $20,000 to $30,000 and can perform many daily tasks. During the demonstration, the robot was seen taking a glass, positioning it under a tap, and pouring the beverage. It is said that the robot can perform tasks like autonomous object sorting, supported by Tesla’s neural networks for efficient control.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that he expects a widespread adoption of Optimus, estimating demand for 10-20 billion units, and foresees Optimus contributing significantly to Tesla’s future value. I wish I could afford to own a unit of Optimus, my major task for it would be to cook for me.
Why Cooking?
Cooking is both an art and a science and like I said earlier, takes time, patience, and skill. As much as I love a good meal, the hours spent on preparation, cooking, and cleaning up can be overwhelming. For busy people juggling work, family, and personal interests, having a robot that could whip up anything from a quick snack to a gourmet dinner would be revolutionary.
Moreover, cooking requires precision that robots excel at. Imagine perfectly sliced vegetables, the ideal sautéing temperature, and each spice added in the exact quantity needed—no more second-guessing or burnt edges. With a robot chef, there’d be no such thing as a kitchen mishap.
How I Imagine Optimus as a Chef
We all see the latest design of Optimus with superb aesthetic allure. With a unique figure and set of features, Optimus would be an intuitive kitchen companion. This new version is 30% faster, weighs 10 kg less, and has improved balance, making it more practical for tasks requiring stability and mobility. Tesla’s engineers have integrated custom-designed actuators and advanced sensory systems that improve both dexterity and speed.
With its voice-recognition system, I would love to ask, "What’s for dinner?” or "Make me a Afang soup and Garri!" In response, it could offer options based on the ingredients available at home, dietary preferences, and even mood—taking cooking to a personalized level.
Image from Chat GPT
The Benefits of Optimus as a Chef
having earlier elucidated the challenges with making good food, especially, our African traditional dishes, I believe that if the robot could undertake cooking chores and tasks, there ar numerous benefits that would accrue to the owner.
First, it would save time especially with its improved design speed. Having a robot chef would give back hours in the day, enabling me to focus on more enjoyable pursuits. Imagine coming home after a long day and having a freshly prepared meal waiting without lifting a finger. With those extra hours, I could catch up on hobbies, exercise, or spend more time for my art and fashion gigs.
Secondly, with Optimus as chef, we could have a healthier eating. This is because as a robot, it would control ingredients, portions, and cooking techniques. It could measure each ingredient with precision, follow low-fat or low-sodium recipes, and even provide nutritional information on each meal prepared. This would be especially helpful in an age where health are top priorities.
Thirdly, having the humanoid robot cook for me would reduce food waste. It would be able to calculate exactly how much of each ingredient is needed. For instance, it could turn leftover ingredients into a fresh dish, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. A robot with an AI-based inventory system could also keep track of ingredients, letting me know when something is about to expire or needs to be restocked.
Finally, while nothing can replace the experience of cooking with loved ones or the warmth of a home-cooked meal, a robotic chef could provide a solution for the countless people who struggle to balance life’s demands. “Dear Optimum, can you cook for me?” would be more than a request for convenience; it would be a request for time, for health, and for a bit more simplicity in our daily lives.
What are your thoughts? What would you have a robot do for you? You can also lend your voice in the discourse by joining the NOVEMBERINLEO daily writing exercise.
