At Tesla’s recent “We, Robot” event, Optimus humanoid robots took the spotlight, engaging with guests by walking around, dancing, serving drinks, and chatting. Most attendees, largely Tesla enthusiasts and investors, shared positive reactions, with videos showcasing the bots’ movements and interactions. Some viewers were convinced the bots were powered by Grok, an AI chatbot from Elon Musk’s xAI, but didn’t inquire further, captivated by the robots’ behavior.
Tesla seemed intent on sparking excitement about the future of robotics. However, multiple reports from outlets like Bloomberg and The Verge indicated that the robots were partially controlled by human operators. Observers noted the bots’ precise timing and variety of voices as potential signs of remote control, with Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas also concluding that human assistance was involved. Sources told Bloomberg that while the Optimus robots could walk autonomously, much of their interactions were monitored and assisted remotely, as one bot even acknowledged being “assisted by a human.”
This raises questions about the actual readiness of the technology for market, especially given Tesla’s projected price of $20,000 to $30,000 per bot. Musk, however, conveyed a bold vision, suggesting these robots could eventually be versatile helpers, capable of performing tasks like walking the dog, mowing the lawn, or even acting as companions.
Investor reactions were mixed, and Tesla’s stock saw an 11% drop following the event, partly due to the lack of new insights into Tesla’s near-term revenue plans, particularly for the Robotaxi and updates to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. Nonetheless, some analysts remained optimistic. George Gianarikas of Canaccord Genuity remarked on the impressive progress in the robots’ development, highlighting Tesla’s potential to shape the robotics industry through its expertise in manufacturing, battery technology, motor design, and engineering, positioning it to build a fully integrated robotics enterprise.
