Tesla Optimus robots shown at the We, Robot event were “assisted by a human.” Various sources show that the humanoid robots were at least partly controlled by humans. Tesla has not publicly confirmed this so far.
The Optimus robots that Tesla showed during the event on October 11 could, among other things, dance, serve drinks and talk to visitors. Tech author and blogger Robert Scoble says shortly after the event he drove from a Teslaengineer has learned that Optimus was partly ‘assisted’ by humans, but that the walking was based on AI, so Electrek noted.
Optimus make me a drink, please.
This is not wholly AI. A human is remote assisting.
Which means AI day next year where we will see how fast Optimus is learning. pic.twitter.com/CE2bEA2uQD
—Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer) 11 October 2024
Since then, several videos from event attendees have emerged that seem to confirm this. Another visitor for example, shared a video in which an Optimus server is specifically asked whether he is being controlled remotely. The robot admits: “Right now I am being assisted by a human. I am not yet fully autonomous”, and the human driver seems to miss the word ‘autonomous’.
Marques Brownlee shares a similar video showing the apparently very advanced speech functionalities of Optimus. From the video it can be seen that the robot responds very quickly and uses human intonation. Assisting the robots was probably done remotely. Security guards of the machines were also seen with a remote control, but it is not clear what these boxes were used for.
Tesla has never publicly confirmed or denied that the robots were controlled by humans. The company also didn’t explicitly claim that Optimus was entirely AI-powered. The live stream of the event also started with a extensive disclaimer. It is not clear to what extent AI was used for the tech demo. Tesla did not respond to questions from Tweakers before the publication of this article.
Optimus Gen 2. Bron: Tesla
Tesla’s Optimus: Humanity’s New Assistant or Just a Really Fancy Puppet?
Gather ‘round, folks! If you’ve ever dreamt of a robot serving you drinks while simultaneously struggling to understand the intricacies of the word “autonomous”, then boy, are you in for a treat! Tesla recently showcased their Optimus robots at the We, Robot event, and let’s just say these humanoids are about as autonomous as a toddler with a remote-control dinosaur!
Now, while everyone was busy watching these robots dance and mingle: it turns out, they were practically attached to the human operator on the other side of the curtain. Who would have thought? Robert Scoble, tech maestro and unofficial spokesperson for all things Tesla, spilled the beans, suggesting these robots were not exactly flying solo. “Optimus make me a drink, please,” he tweeted, “but just to be clear, a human’s giving him the nudge.”
This is not wholly AI. A human is remote assisting.
— Robert Scoble
Brilliant! So much for the “I, Robot” dream— these Optimus bots are more like glorified puppets! They’ve been caught on video admitting, “Right now I am being assisted by a human. I am not yet fully autonomous,” which sounds eerily similar to how we respond after one too many drinks at a party, doesn’t it?
Speaking of parties, these chatty little robots were noted for their impressive conversational skills. Marques Brownlee shared a clip where one of them converses with impeccable human intonation. But here’s the kicker— while they might sound like your friendly bartender, they actually need someone behind the scenes to ensure they don’t start pouring you a vodka and orange juice instead of a Virgin Mary!
And let’s talk about security for a moment. Those “security guards” rumored to be controlling these machines—what on earth were they doing with their mysterious remote controls? Was it a utility belt with snacks, or were they playing a game of “don’t set your robot loose at the open bar”? We may never know.
As Tesla keeps its lips zipped like an overcooked pasta, the question remains—how much of this was actual AI prowess, and how much was just humans wielding their magic from afar? They haven’t confirmed the human assistance publicly, and judging by that extensive disclaimer at the start of the live stream, they’re treading lightly. After all, admitting your star robots are more puppet than autonomous diva might not be the best marketing angle!
So, what’s the takeaway? If you thought you’d be trading in your butler for a robot any time soon, it looks like you may need to hold your horses. For now, the Optimus robots are like your parents letting you ride a bike with training wheels—very much there, but not quite ready to let go!
Who knows? With a little less “human assistance” and a bit more confidence, maybe next year we’ll see them at the AI Day tossing drinks, designing cars, and giving TED talks all by themselves. After all, autonomy could just be a few firmware updates away!
Until then, let’s keep those remote controls handy—because if the robots start rebelling, I’m not sure a “please” or a “thank you” will keep them in check!