Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, launched the newest version of the humanoid robot Optimus during the ‘We, Robot’ event in California last week. At the presentation, the robots showcased a range of skills, including serving drinks, dancing, singing birthday songs, and even playing rock-paper-scissors with guests. However, many in the audience mistakenly believed they were witnessing advanced AI-driven machines.
One attendee, Robert Scoble (@Scobleizer), shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the robots were actually ‘operated remotely by humans’. While sharing a video of the robot serving drinks to the people in the audience, Scoble wrote in a post on X, “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 (sic).”
In a separate video, one of the robots confirmed that it is supported by a human, indicating that it is not entirely autonomous. When a guest enquired whether it is remotely controlled, the robot responded, “Today, I am assisted by a human. I am not yet fully autonomous.”
During the demonstration, the robot was seen picking up a glass, placing it beneath a tap, and pouring a drink. It then turned to the individual filming and asked if they wanted a photo, striking a pose with a peace sign. The robots were also featured in a video demo performing various household tasks such as watering plants and picking up packages.
According to Musk, the Optimus robot will revolutionise the world. Launching several humanoid Optimus robots at the event, Musk said that Optimus could be priced between $20,000 to $30,000, making it potentially accessible to a broad consumer market. “The Optimus will walk amongst you. You’ll be able to walk right up to them, and they will serve drinks,” he added. Musk also said that these robots could eventually walk dogs, babysit children, and even mow lawns. “I think everyone among the eight billion people on Earth will want an Optimus buddy. The Optimus robot will revolutionise the world more than ever!” Musk said.
