Elon Musk's Optimus Robot Show: Was It All a Lie?

posted  15 hr ago
Tesla’s showcase of its humanoid robots created a lot of excitement in the tech world. Footage of the Optimus robots walking smoothly, completing tasks, and engaging with the crowd spread across the globe.

But behind the scenes, there’s talk of a critical detail that not only casts doubt on the true abilities of the robots but also raises questions about the credibility of the presentation.

According to Bloomberg sources, some of the Optimus robots’ interactions with attendees were remotely controlled by operators. In other words, humans may have been behind some of the most impressive feats the robots performed.

So, how autonomous are Tesla’s robots?

If they still rely on operator control, can they perform complex tasks independently in real-world conditions?
Elon Musk has been positioning Optimus as a groundbreaking product, one that could become a vital household assistant. Tesla’s "We, Robots" event set high expectations for what this new product could achieve. However, it seems that the robots are still far from achieving full autonomy.

There are also ethical concerns about manipulating audience perceptions—especially when investors are involved. Musk promised a demonstration of advanced technology, not a staged performance.

That said, this doesn’t mean the project is destined to fail. Tesla is actively working on improving the robots, and in the future, Optimus could evolve from a stage show to a useful everyday assistant.

And let’s not forget, this is the same man who recently stunned the world with the "Mechazilla" arms catching the skyscraper-sized Super Heavy booster mid-air. Handling robots should be well within his grasp.