Tesla Inc. relied on humans to remotely control several functions of its Optimus robot prototypes at the recent “We, Robot” event, designed to showcase new products and excite investors. According to sources familiar with the event, employees were stationed elsewhere to oversee many of the interactions between the robots and attendees at the October 10 event near Los Angeles. This behind-the-scenes oversight has raised questions about the capabilities and market readiness of Tesla’s highly anticipated humanoid robots.
Attendees of the invite-only event, which included investors, Wall Street analysts, and Tesla fans, had the chance to interact with the black-and-white robots for the first time. The Optimus prototypes, which Tesla has shown in previous demonstrations, performed tasks such as pouring drinks, giving high-fives, and even playing games like rock, paper, scissors. While the robots were able to walk independently using artificial intelligence, many of their interactions were reportedly guided by human operators working remotely.
Although Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk did not mention this aspect of the demonstrations during his remarks, at least one attendee posted a video on social media showing an Optimus robot acknowledging that it was “assisted by a human.” This revelation contrasts with Musk’s bold claims that the Optimus robots will soon revolutionize household tasks, ranging from babysitting and dog walking to mowing lawns and grocery shopping.
At the event, Musk described the Optimus robot as potentially Tesla’s “biggest product ever,” predicting that it could eventually be sold to consumers for $20,000 to $30,000 each. “What can it do? It can be a teacher, babysit your kids, walk your dog, mow your lawn, get the groceries, just be your friend, serve drinks. Whatever you can think of, it will do,” Musk told the audience.
The event also featured Tesla’s new Cybercab robotaxi and a van concept, with guests taking short rides in the autonomously driven vehicles. However, the focus on Optimus stole much of the spotlight, despite lingering concerns about the humanoid’s full capabilities. Some attendees, like Gene Munster, managing partner of Deepwater Asset Management, admitted they were “fooled” by the robot’s seemingly independent actions. Still, Munster described the event as offering a “window into the potential around these products.”
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The last-minute addition of the Optimus robots to the event raised questions about Tesla’s preparedness. Originally, the robots were not supposed to be part of the “We, Robot” showcase, but Musk requested their inclusion about three weeks before the event. This tight timeline did not allow the software to be fully refined, necessitating the use of remote human assistance, according to a source familiar with the company’s operations.
This isn’t the first time Tesla’s Optimus prototypes have raised eyebrows. At an earlier event in 2022, an early version of the robot had to be carried onstage by people, underscoring the challenges Tesla faces in advancing the development of the humanoid. Tesla has since posted updates showing progress, such as Optimus sorting blocks and dancing, but much work remains to make the robot fully autonomous.
Despite these challenges, some attendees saw the event as a glimpse into the future. Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, wrote in a note to clients that Optimus “stole the show” and described the humanoid’s movements as “remarkably human.” Wedbush analyst Dan Ives echoed this sentiment, calling the robot a “glimpse of the future” and noting that Optimus is “potentially much closer to a reality” than some expected.
While the event generated excitement about Tesla’s vision for the future, it was not without its disappointments. Musk was originally expected to provide more details about Tesla’s broader autonomous-driving plans, including the future of the Cybercab robotaxi business and the company’s Semi truck. However, many of these topics were either skipped or removed from the presentation, leading some to view the event as lacking in technical depth.
Following the event, Tesla’s shares experienced their biggest decline in more than two months, signaling investor uncertainty about the company’s plans. Nonetheless, Musk remains optimistic about the long-term potential of Optimus and the company’s autonomous-driving technology. While the exact timeline for a commercial launch remains unclear, the humanoid robots are set to remain a key part of Tesla’s ambitious product lineup moving forward.
