The Optimus robots at the Tesla event were controlled by people in special suits

At the recent Tesla Cybercab event, the Optimus robots turned into humans in suits, which was one of the most interesting parts of the show. The robots interacted with guests, served drinks, played games and even danced, and they could also talk, much to the surprise of many. However, this was just a demonstration, and not a real breakthrough in autonomous robots.

As several sources, including Electrek, noted, it was clear at the event that the robots weren’t working entirely on their own. Robert Scoble, one of the participants, wrote that the robots received remote assistance from humans. He later clarified that the engineer told him that the robots used AI to move, but their actions were controlled by operators. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas also pointed out that the devices relied on “telemetry” or human intervention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R41T_aq83wY

There are several indications that the robots were not fully autonomous. For example, each Optimus had a different voice, and their answers to questions were immediate, with appropriate gestures. In one video, one of the robots jokingly replied that it was controlled by a human when the robot asked how independent they were.

This is not the first time that Tesla has drawn attention to a robot in this way. Even at the beginning of the robotics exhibition, Elon Musk brought a man in a robot suit on stage, so it is not surprising that the performance this time was more of a hyperbole than a real indication of the capabilities of technology. Attendees of the event did not express much disappointment, but if anyone was hoping to see progress in the field of autonomous humanoid robots, the event did not really give a sense of how far Tesla has come in the field this.